PREVALENCE OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY AMONG PRESCHOOL CHILDREN OF HIGH LEVEL ECONOMICAL PARTNER OF ARACAJU-SE

Abstract

Model of Study: Prevalence Study. Objective: The objective of the present study was to esteem the prevalence of overweight and obesity among preschool children of high level economical partner of Aracaju-Sergipe city, Brazil, measured in a direct way. Methods: 243 children, being 51% of the female sex from 3,5 to 5,5 years old of high level economical partner, in agreement to National Association of Company of Research was appraised with relationship to the weight and the stature, to calculate IMC and to classify them in normal, overweight or obesity in agreement with the criteria of it Cole et al. Results: The prevalence of overweight was 16% and the obesity of 7,9%, and there were not significant differences in the prevalence of overweight and obesity between boys and girls (p > 0,05), as well as there were not differences among the groups of age for each sex (p > 0,05). Conclusion: The overweight and the obesity were made presents in a sample of children from 3,5 to 5,5 years of age of high purchasing power of the Aracaju city.