Prevalence of obesity and overweight in schoolchildren aged 7 to 12 years from a city in southern Brazil

• Published in: Brazilian Journal of Kinanthropometry and Human Performance Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 90 - 97
• Main Authors: Rech, R R, Halpern, R, Costanzi, C B, de Araujo Bergmann, ML, Alli, L R, de Mattos, AP, Trentin, L, Brum, L R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: 01.01.2010
• ISSN: 1415-8426

The prevalence of obesity and overweight has been increasing worldwide over the last few years. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of obesity and overweight in schoolchildren aged 7 to 12 years from a mid-sized city in southern Brazil, and to determine possible associations with socioeconomic status, aerobic fitness, dietary habits, and leisure activities (sedentary and physical activity). A cross-sectional study was conducted and 1,442 children were evaluated regarding body weight and height. Obesity was defined based on BMI for gender and age. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out between the independent variables and outcome. The prevalence of obesity and overweight was 8% (CI: 7.54-8.45) and 19.9% (CI: 19.62-20.17), respectively. Aerobic fitness (p<0.000, PR=0.59), practicing out-of-school time sports (p=0.005, PR=1.41), sedentary habits (TV, video games and computer) (p=0.004, PR=1.50), and high socioeconomic level (p<0.000, PR=2.64) were significantly associated with obesity and overweight in the adjusted multivariate model. Dietary habits were directly associated with obesity and overweight, but did not remain in the final multivariate model. The prevalence of obesity and overweight in this population was high and should be a matter of concern to city health authorities.Original Abstract: A obesidade e o sobrepeso vem aumentando suas prevalencias em todo o mundo nos ultimos anos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi estimar a prevalencia de obesidade e sobrepeso em escolares de 7 a 12 anos (meninos e meninas), de uma cidade serrana do RS e verificar as possiveis associacoes com as seguintes variaveis: classe socioeconomica, aptidao aerobica, habitos alimentares e habitos de lazer (sedentarios e atividade fisica). Foram avaliados 1.442 escolares, atraves de um estudo transversal. As variaveis antropo-metricas estudadas foram massa corporal total e estatura. A obesidade foi definida pelo IMC, segundo sexo e idade. Foi realizada uma analise descritiva, bivariada e multivariada entre as variaveis independentes e o desfecho. As prevalencias de obesidade e sobrepeso foram de 8% (IC=7,54 - 8,45) e 19,9% (IC= 19,62 - 20,17) respectivamente. As variaveis aptidao aerobica (p<0,000 - RP=0,59), pratica de esportes fora do horario escolar (p=0,005 - RP=1,41), habitos sedentarios (televisao, video game e computador) (p=0,004 - RP=1,50) e nivel socioeconomico alto (p<0,000 - RP=2,64) apresentaram associacao estatistica significante com obesidade e sobrepeso mesmo apos ajuste na analise multivariada. As variaveis referentes a habitos alimentares foram significativas na analise bivariada, mas nao se mantiveram no modelo multivariado. As prevalencias de obesidade e sobrepeso da populacao estudada encontram-se elevadas e devem ser motivo de preocupacao das autoridades de saude do municipio.