Abstract
Brazil is undergoing a period of epidemiological transition associated with demographic and nutritional changes. The prevalence of obesity is also increasing in children and is causing numerous health problems that are becoming public health issues. The aim here was to evaluate the prevalence of overweight among children of two and three years of age. Cross-sectional study in municipal day care centers in Taubaté, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Weight and height measurements were made on 447 preschool children forming a probabilistic randomized sample. Their body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Their nutritional status was classified using the World Health Organization reference cutoff points (2006). Their mean weight, height and BMI were compared according to their age and sex. The mean values for the final sample (n = 447) were as follows: mean age: 38.6 months (± 3.5) and Z scores for: weight/height (W/H): 0.50 (± 1.22); height/age: -0.03 (± 1.07); weight/age (W/A): 0.51 (± 1.23); and BMI: 0.51(± 1.23). The prevalence of overweight children (BMI > 1 z) was 28.86%, while the prevalence of underweight children (BMI < -2 z) was 0.89%. There were no differences in mean BMI among the two and three-year age groups (P = 0.66). A high prevalence of overweight was observed in the sample of two and three-year-old children, with practically no malnutrition, thus showing that a significant nutritional transition may already be occurring, even in medium-sized cities of developing countries.
Highlights
Like other developing countries, Brazil is undergoing a period of important epidemiological transition, which has been associated with both demographic and nutritional changes
To evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obese children of two and three years of age who were attending day care centers in a medium-sized city in the state of São Paulo. This was a cross-sectional study on a randomized sample of two to three-year-old children who were enrolled in Maternal I classes in day care centers in the city of Taubaté, state of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2009
The children aged less than 36 months presented the following mean anthropometric Z scores: weight for height (W/H): 0.50 (± 1.03); height for age (H/A): 0.00 (± 1.09); weight for age (W/A): 0.51 (± 1.23); and body mass index (BMI) 0.60 (± 1.03)
Summary
Brazil is undergoing a period of important epidemiological transition, which has been associated with both demographic and nutritional changes. This transition has resulted in reductions in the prevalence of malnutrition, with a subsequent increase in the prevalence of obesity, rising to epidemic proportions.[1] Obesity in children is increasing rapidly and is causing numerous health problems that are becoming public health issues, both in developed and in developing countries.[2]. Detection of changes in body composition during early childhood allows early interventions to be set in motion, which may aid in preventing the development of long-term comorbidities resulting from obesity.[8]
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