Sobrepeso em adolescentes de 14 a 19 anos em um município da região Sul do Brasil

Abstract

Objectives: to identify overweight incidence in adolescents as well as associated environmental, biological, social and economic factors in the municipality of Toledo, Paraná. Methods: a cross sectional study was performed with adolescents enrolled in middle school aged 14 to 19 years old, in day classes of the urban area in the municipality. Body mass/age rates were used to diagnose the risk of overweight exposure. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to survey personal, anthropometric, biologic and life style related data such as: the use of TV, video and computer, practicing of sports and number of meals. To establish social and economic status the criterion used was that of the Economic Classification of Brazil from the National Survey Companies Association. Results: 3.8% of the adolescents were underweight and 10.2% were overweight. A statistically significant association was determined for the incidence of overweight among adolescents who had four or more meals per day (5.5%) and among the ones who had up to three meals a day (16.3%). When stratifying overweight by classes of income, the overweight incidence rate had a tendency of decreasing as the economic class decreased. Conclusions: overweight prevalence is higher than underweight; the last is below the rates determined in other Brazilian municipalities. Less frequency of meals and higher income classes were associated to overweight.