Overweightness and obesity in 7 to 10-year-old students in Ubá-MG / Sobrepeso e obesidade em escolares de 7 a 10 anos de idade em Ubá-MG
AUTOR(ES)
Sherley Ferreira
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO
2006
RESUMO
The rapid acceleration in the prevalence of child obesity is an alarming factor for being associated with several metabolic disturbances, besides being a strong predictor of obesity in adult life. The objective of the study was to analyze the occurrence of overweightness and obesity and the impact on biochemical indicators and blood pressure in a group of 7- to 10-year-old students in the Municipality of Ubá, MG. In this context, a study of traversal cut was carried out in public schools of the Municipality of Ubá - Mg. The sample consisted of a group of 299 7- to 10-yearold children, being 169 females (56.5%) and 130 males (43.5%). The anthropometric measures of body weight, height, waist circumference and thickness of the tricipital and subescapular skinfolds were taken. These data allowed the calculation of body mass index (BMI), body fat/body weight ratio (BF%), fat weight and lean mass. The biochemical indicators were measured by laboratory techniques, determining blood levels of glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, HDLcholesterol and triacylglycerols. Blood pressure measures were also taken. The results showed that 43.5% of the analyzed subjects were eutrophic, 32.8% presented overweight and 23.7% obesity. The data indicate that the occurrence of excess body weight among the students was very high, confirming the severity of the problem in this age group. Blood pressure and biochemical profile were evaluated in a subsample of children considered obese (n = 62). Of those, 29% showed blood hypertension, 41.9% increased levels of total cholesterol, 46.8% decreased HDLcholesterol, 14.6% high LDL-cholesterol and 29.1% triacylglycerols above the threshold limits. In conclusion, it seems evident the need for public policies aiming at the prevention and control of overweightness and child obesity, by means of educational actions that promote the health of the young population and in the future in the adult age.
ASSUNTO(S)
obesidade crianças escolares epidemiologia nutricional school children saude publica nutritional epidemiology obesity
