Factors associated with overweight and abdominal obesity in Brazilian school-aged children: a comprehensive approach.

Helen Carla Vieira Caixeta,Angelica Amorim Amato

doi:10.20945/2359-3997000000239

Helen Carla Vieira Caixeta, Angelica Amorim Amato

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.20945/2359-3997000000239

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Abstract

Objective We investigated the association between demographic, socio-economic, perinatal, parental and lifestyle-related factors with general and abdominal obesity among prepubertal children aged 6 to 8 years in a Southeastern city of Brazil. Subjects and methods A total of 486 children were randomly selected from public schools in the city of Patos de Minas, and examined to determine body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Demographic, socio-economic, perinatal, parental and lifestyle-related data were obtained and assessed as independent risk factors for overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity, using multiple regression analysis. Results Obesity/overweight (BMI percentile ≥ 85), seen in 19% of the children, was positively associated with low maternal education, being born small for gestational age, maternal BMI and screen time, whereas abdominal obesity (WC percentile > 90), seen in 9.9% of the children, was positively associated with maternal age and maternal BMI. When BMI and WC percentile were analyzed as continuous variables, birth by cesarean section, parental BMI, and lower sleep time were positively associated with BMI percentile, and birth by cesarean section, being born small for gestational age, and parental BMI were positively associated with WC percentile. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the frequency of overweight and obesity in a city in the Southeastern region of Brazil is similar to the global frequency reported by the World Health Organization. We also found that many modifiable risk factors were associated with general and abdominal obesity, and these may possibly substantiate future strategies to prevent childhood obesity and its consequences in adult life.

Highlights

Childhood obesity is currently one of the most serious global public health challenges, due to the alarming increase in its prevalence and associated morbidity and mortality [1]
Overweight was defined as body mass index (BMI) percentile of 85 or higher, and abdominal obesity was defined as waist circumference (WC) percentile of 90 or higher, according to CDC cutoff criteria [9,10]
Birth by Cesarean section, being born small for gestational age, and maternal and paternal BMI were positively and significantly associated with increased WC percentile (Table 3). In this cross-sectional study, we found that the frequency of overweight and obesity were 9.9% and 9.1%, respectively, and the frequency of abdominal obesity was 9.9%, among overall healthy 6 to 8-year-old children

Summary

Introduction

Childhood obesity is currently one of the most serious global public health challenges, due to the alarming increase in its prevalence and associated morbidity and mortality [1]. The obesity epidemic affects high-income countries but is growing even more rapidly in many low- and middle-income countries. Latin America has one of the highest childhood overweight and obesity rates in the world, of around 20% [5]. It is largely believed that the economic changes in Latin America over the last decades have favored increased consumption of calorically dense and low-nutrient foods, in addition to decreased physical activity, with a major impact on obesity epidemics. Notwithstanding, obesity is a complex and multifactorial disease, involving both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, whose relative contributions may vary on a regional basis [6]. Given that obesity may be largely preventable, the acknowledgment of modifiable risk factors to ground regional policies addressing prevention is an urgent priority [7]

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