[Prevalence of overweight in adolescents: a population-based study in a southern Brazilian city].
The prevalence of overweight and its association with demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and biological variables were evaluated. The sample included 810 adolescents (10-19 years of age) living in the urban area of Pelotas, a southern Brazilian city. Overweight was defined as a body mass index > or = the 85th percentile, according to sex and age, and compared to the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, following the WHO recommendation for adolescents. A clustering sampling strategy was used, and both the crude and adjusted analyses (Poisson Regression) took this strategy into account. The prevalence of overweight was 19.3% (95%CI: 16.6-22.0) and there was no difference between the sexes. The following groups presented a greater probability of being overweight: those classified in the wealthiest socioeconomic groups, those who had dieted to lose weight within the previous 3 months, those who watch 4 or more hours of television per day, and those who have less than 3 regular meals per day. After stratification by gender, high socioeconomic level was associated with greatest risk of overweight among boys. Dieting to lose weight during the previous 3 months, 4 or more hours of television viewing per day, and less than 3 formal meals per day were risk factors for overweight among girls.
Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil. clcdutra@hotmail.com
Carmem L
CL
Dutra
Cora L
CL
Araújo
Andréa D
AD
Bertoldi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population