Overweight, obesity and other risk factors for IHD in Brazilian schoolchildren.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of overweight, obesity and nutritional habits in schoolchildren aged 10-18 years.


METHODS
Contemporary, cross-sectional, population-based study, with a stratified probabilistic sample of secondary schools in Porto Alegre comprising a total of 511 schoolchildren. Data on family risk factors, anthropometrics and eating habits were collected.


RESULTS
The prevalence of excess weight was 27.6 % among the schoolchildren, with 17.8 % being overweight (BMI > or = 85th and <95th percentile) and 9.8 % obese (BMI > or = 95th percentile). Overweight was more prevalent in females (19.9 %) and obesity in males (11.8 %). Children who ate fewer meals per day tend to be more obese (mean: 3.51 (sd 1.14) v. 4.22 (sd 1.01) meals/d for students with normal weight). The mean weekly intake of unhealthy foods was 3.25 times for soft drinks, 2.91 for fried foods and 4.01 for sweets. The intake of skimmed milk (38.9 %) and diet soft drinks (20.9 %) was greater among obese children.


CONCLUSIONS
Overweight and obesity are increasing even in developing countries such as Brazil. Although many families are already taking measures towards healthier health habits, preventive actions must be considered a priority, with an emphasis on education, in order to avoid the need to treat obesity and its significant burden in the near future.
Barbiero
Sandra Mari
SM
Institute of Cardiology of Rio Grande do Sul/Cardiology Universitary Foundation, Av. Princesa Isabel, RS 90620-001, Brazil.
Pellanda
Lucia Campos
LC
Cesa
Claudia Ciceri
CC
Campagnolo
Paula
P
Beltrami
Flávia
F
Abrantes
Caroline C
CC
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D017678:Sex Distribution