Prevalence of overweight, obesity and physical activity levels in children from Azores Islands.
BACKGROUND
Childhood overweight and obesity are increasing all over the world and have been associated with low levels of physical activity (PA).


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of overweight, obesity and PA levels in Azorean children according to age and sex; and to determine the association between levels of PA and prevalence of overweight and obesity.


METHODS
Weight, height and PA levels were measured in 3699 children aged 6-10 years, from the Azores Islands, Portugal. Overweight and obesity were classified according to the cut-offs of Cole et al. (BMJ 320:1240-1243, 2000) .


RESULTS
In girls, prevalences of overweight and obesity were 22.8% and 13.2%, and in boys 17.6% and 12.3%, respectively. No age trends were found in the prevalence of overweight or obesity; however, girls had a higher risk of being overweight (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.2-1.7) than boys. Levels of PA were higher in boys compared to girls (F(1) = 52.8, p < 0.001). A protective effect of PA practice (very active versus less active) was observed for obesity (OR = 0.7; 95% CI = 0.5-0.9).


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrate the existence of high prevalence of overweight and obesity in children from the Azores Islands, which is associated with low levels of PA.
Pereira
Sofia A
SA
Faculty of Sports, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido Costa 91, Porto, Portugal.
Seabra
André T
AT
Silva
Rui G
RG
Katzmarzyk
Peter T
PT
Beunen
Gaston P
GP
Maia
José A
JA
D000367:Age Factors; D001394:Azores / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013177:Sports