Prevalence of overweight and obesity among Brazilian children and adolescents: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among young Brazilian aged 5 to 19 years through systematic review and meta-analysis of data available in the literature. An electronic search was conducted for articles in the MedLine/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Scielo e Lilacs published from 2000 to 2018 were selected using predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Measures of heterogeneity and variability were calculated, and random effect model were used to estimate pooled prevalence rates. Forest-plots graphs were generated by sex and age. Meta-regression models were fitted to identify possible sources of heterogeneity in the prevalence estimates. Of the 1,002 articles initially identified 26 met the inclusion criteria. In children (5-9 years) the pooled prevalence rates of overweight were 16.2% (95%CI 13.2-19.3; Q=411.7, p<0.001; I2=97.8%) in girls and 14.4% (95%CI 11.5-17.3; Q=403.9, p<0.001; I2=97.7%) in boys. Obesity, 9.2% (95%CI 5.9-12.3; Q=1111.7, p<0.001; I2=99.2%) and 9.0% (95%CI 5.5-12.5; Q=1413.1, p<0.001; I2=99.4%), respectively. Regarding adolescents (10-19 years), in girls 16.4% (95%CI 15.1-17.7; Q=245.6, p<0.001; I2=92.3%) for overweight and 6.2% (95%CI 4.9-7.5; Q=842.9, p<0.001; I2=97.7%) for obesity. In boys, 15.3% (95%CI 13.4-17.1; Q=493.7, p<0.001; I2=96.2%) and 6.7% (95%CI 5.0-8.5; Q=1200.4, p<0.001; I2=98.4%), respectively. Geographic region, year of data collection and diagnostic criteria had a significant impact on the heterogeneity of the prevalence of overweight and obesity. The review identified increasing trends in the prevalence rates, highlighting the urgent need to promote healthy lifestyles from the young ages, in order to effectively address the presence of excess body weight.