Prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents: estimative according to gender, age, and socioeconomic status

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the estimative of prevalence of overweight and obesity in representative sample of children and adolescents from school population in the city of Apucarana, Paraná, in the southern region of Brazil, according to gender, age, and socioeconomic status. A total of 4319 subjects (2084 girls and 2235 boys) aged 7 to 18 years-old were included in the study. To define overweight and obesity we used the gender-and-age-specific body mass index cut-offs recommended by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). The prevalence in the different studied groups (gender, age, and socioeconomic status) was compared using the adjusted odds ratio in logistic regression models. Prevalence of overweight and obesity were 24.7% and 5.9%, respectively, for girls, as compared to 21.9% and 4.1% for boys. Magnitude of the prevalence increases with age, being these values more pronounced among the boys. A direct relation between socioeconomic status and prevalence of overweight and obesity was found, and it was less consistent in girls than in boys. The results of the present study indicate that the prevalence of overweight and obesity reported was substantially higher than studies with national representativeness in the Brazilian population of same age. However, these data demonstrate similar prevalence when compared to studies from more developed and industrialized countries. There is an urgent need to implement educational programs of intervention, which should encourage physical activities and adequate dietary habits.