The prevalence of overweight in Brazilian adults has grown in recent years. There is evidence indicating that environmental factors, especially social characteristics, may be involved in the aetiology of overweight, but few studies have investigated this association adequately. The main objective of this study was to identify residents’ perception of their social environment (social cohesion, security and violence) and assess its relationship with overweight in a central area of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The associations between socioeconomic characteristics and social environment perception were also explored. This cross-sectional study conducted in 2018–19 had 400 participants aged from 20 to 70 years living in low- and high-income areas of the city of Porto Alegre. Participants’ perception of social cohesion, security and violence were evaluated using a validated questionnaire. Participants’ body mass index (BMI) was measured, and those with a BMI ≥25 kg/m2 were considered to be overweight. Unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated through Poisson regression analysis; level of significance was 5%. The prevalence of overweight in the sample was 68.8% (95% CI 64.0–73.2). Individuals with a more positive social cohesion perception had a higher prevalence of overweight (PR 1.06; 95% CI: 1.00–1.12; p=0.02) than those with a less positive perception. Brown individuals also had a higher prevalence of overweight (PR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.02–1.15; p=0.03) than those of other skin colour/race. No association was found between overweight and perception of security or violence. Therefore, social cohesion may be an important factor in overweight and the findings highlight the importance of considering social factors, and their perceptions, when planning actions for the prevention and control of overweight in a population.

近年来，巴西成年人超重的患病率有所增加。有证据表明，环境因素，尤其是社会特征，可能与超重的病因有关，但很少有研究充分调查这种关联。本研究的主要目的是确定居民对其社会环境（社会凝聚力、安全和暴力）的看法，并评估其与巴西阿雷格里港中心地区超重的关系。还探讨了社会经济特征与社会环境感知之间的关联。这项于 2018-19 年进行的横断面研究有 400 名年龄在 20 至 70 岁之间的参与者，他们生活在阿雷格里港市的低收入和高收入地区。参与者对社会凝聚力的看法，使用经过验证的问卷对安全和暴力进行了评估。测量参与者的体重指数（BMI），BMI≥25 kg/m2被认为是超重。通过泊松回归分析估计未调整和调整后的患病率 (PR) 和 95% 置信区间 (95% CI)；显着性水平为 5%。样本中超重的患病率为 68.8% (95% CI 64.0–73.2)。具有更积极的社会凝聚力感知的个体的超重患病率更高（PR 1.06；95% CI：1.00-1.12；p = 0.02）比那些不那么积极的感知。棕色个体的超重患病率也较高（PR：1.08；95% CI：1.02-1.15；p=0.03) 高于其他肤色/种族。未发现超重与安全感或暴力感之间存在关联。因此，社会凝聚力可能是超重的一个重要因素，研究结果强调了在规划预防和控制人群超重的行动时考虑社会因素及其看法的重要性。