OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children attending public and private schools in the urban area of Feira de Santana-BA; to evaluate both the perception of excessive weight gain by guardians and the prevalence of treatment of those children. METHOD: Cross-sectional study with 699 children, whose age ranged from 5 to 9 years old, attending public and private schools of Feira de Santana-BA in 2001. Overweight was defined as body mass index (BMI)> or =85th percentile and obesity as BMI > or =95th percentile both for age and gender. The level of perception of children's excessive weight gain by guardians was evaluated by means of individual interviews. RESULTS: Total prevalence rates were 9.3% for overweight and 4.4% for obesity, without statistically significant difference among age and gender. White ethnic group was related only to overweight. Prevalence for overweight and obesity was, respectively, 6.5% and 2.7% for public schools and 13.4% and 7.0% for private ones. Guardians suspected that 11.7% of the children presented excessive weight gain. Only 11.1% of them were submitted to treatment. A percentage of 22.2% of these treatments were performed by specialized professionals. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was high and similar to some studies in Brazil; even though excessive weight gain can be recognized by children's guardians, they are not aware of the necessity of treatment.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children attending public and private schools in the urban area of Feira de Santana-BA; to evaluate both the perception of excessive weight gain by guardians and the prevalence of treatment of those children. METHOD: Cross-sectional study with 699 children, whose age ranged from 5 to 9 years old, attending public and private schools of Feira de Santana-BA in 2001. Overweight was defined as body mass index (BMI)> or =85th percentile and obesity as BMI > or =95th percentile both for age and gender. The level of perception of children's excessive weight gain by guardians was evaluated by means of individual interviews. RESULTS: Total prevalence rates were 9.3% for overweight and 4.4% for obesity, without statistically significant difference among age and gender. White ethnic group was related only to overweight. Prevalence for overweight and obesity was, respectively, 6.5% and 2.7% for public schools and 13.4% and 7.0% for private ones. Guardians suspected that 11.7% of the children presented excessive weight gain. Only 11.1% of them were submitted to treatment. A percentage of 22.2% of these treatments were performed by specialized professionals. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was high and similar to some studies in Brazil; even though excessive weight gain can be recognized by children's guardians, they are not aware of the necessity of treatment.
Authors: Kristen Heitzinger; Juan Carlos Vélez; Sonia G Parra; Clarita Barbosa; Annette L Fitzpatrick Journal: Obes Res Clin Pract Date: 2014 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 2.288
Authors: Scott Duncan; Elizabeth K Duncan; Romulo A Fernandes; Camila Buonani; Karolynne D-N Bastos; Aline F M Segatto; Jamile S Codogno; Igor C Gomes; Ismael F Freitas Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2011-07-22 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Ana M Oliveira; Antônio C Oliveira; Marcele S Almeida; Nelson Oliveira; Luis Adan Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2007-09-07 Impact factor: 3.295