Abstract

Author(s): Godinho de Sá, Amanda1; Reis Araújo, Daniela Cristina1; Pinto Magalhães, Eila1; Frota Lacerda Mota, Lidianne1; Cordeiro Teixeira, Vaneska1; Teixeira Teles Gonçalves, Jaqueline2; Macedo de Oliveira, Marcos Vinícius2

Introduction: Obesity and overweight are defined as abnormal accumulation of body fat. Being overweight at child age can have serious health implications, ranging from greater likelihood of obesity and incapacity in adult life to premature deaths.

Objective: to verify the occurrence of overweight and childhood obesity among school-aged children.

Subjects and Methods: Cross - sectional, analytical and quantitative study, with data collection conducted in April and May of 2016 in two private schools in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais. The sample consisted of 246 children enrolled from the first to sixth year of elementary education aged 6 to 12 years. Anthropometric variables were collected considering weight and height, and from these, the Body Mass Index was calculated, using the Z score. The data were tabulated and statistically analyzed, comparing the Z score By gender and age.

Results: From the sample obtained (n = 246), 142 (57.7%) children were females and 104 (42.3%) were males, of whom 37 and 31, respectively, were overweight. Among the 110 children aged 6 to 10 years, 26 (23.6%) were overweight. In the age group of 10 to 12 years, the majority of the children were eutrophic (64.7%).

Conclusion: Although the majority of the evaluated universe was composed by eutrophism, the relevant rate of overweight / obesity among these children is perceptible. The recognition of the factors related to the development of this accumulation of fat in children makes it possible to intervene early, avoiding its repercussions in the short and long term.