title: [Prevalence of excess weight in preschoolers in the Northeast of Brazil].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Determine the prevalence of excess weight in preschoolers in Natal/RN and analyze the variables involved such as: gender, age, type of school (public and private) and city zones.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transversal study was performed in 20 public and 20 private schools in Natal, Brazil, between August and December, 2004. A total of 3721 children, from 2 to 6 years of age were analyzed. Children whose BMI was > or = 85 percentile were considered as excess weight and those with BMI > or = 95 percentile as overweight .
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of excess weight found was 26.5% (95%CI=24.4-28.9), with 14.1% (95%CI=13.0-15.3) risk of overweight and 12.4% (95%CI=11.4-13.6) overweight. In overweight children there were more males (13.9%, 95%CI=12.4-15.6) than females (10.8%, 95%CI=9.4-12.4) (p<0.01, Prevalence ratio [PR]=1.29, 95%CI=1.08-1.53). Excess weight was found in 19.7% (95%CI=17.1-22.7) of public school students and in 32.5% (95%CI=29.3-35.9) of private school students (p<0.01, [PR]=1.64, 95%CI=1.47-1.84). Overweight prevalence was 7.1% (95%CI=6.0-8.4) and 17.1% (95%CI=15.5-18.8), respectively (p<0.01, [PR]=2.41, 95%CI=1.98-2.93). The East + South zones, areas with a better quality of life index, showed higher percentages of excess weight (p<0.01) and overweight (p<0.01) than the North +West zones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Excess weight and overweight prevalence in preschoolers in Natal is high, mainly in private schools, showing the need to implement prevention and intervention programs.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências da Saúde da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte/Hospital de Pediatriada UFRN e Departamento de Pediatria. annachristina@nata.digi.com.br
authors.forename: Anna Christina do Nascimento Granjeiro
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.forename: Lana do Monte Paula
authors.initials: Ldo M
authors.lastname: Brasil
authors.forename: Hélcio de S
authors.initials: Hde S
authors.lastname: Maranhão
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017149:Private Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017150:Public Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data