Excess of weight in Brazilian children and their vulnerability factors: An integrating review

Abstract

Overweight in the child involves complex issues, and placing it exclusively as a health problem makes it difficult to identify other aspects associated with it, such as the state of vulnerability. This article used the adapted integrative review method to identify the vulnerability of Brazilian children in relation to overweight from the point of view of bioethics. In order to analyze the vulnerability dimensions, the vulnerability matrix used was the one adapted by Ayres et al., 2006, which includes vulnerability factors in the individual, social and programmatic dimensions. In the individual dimension, biological factors, beliefs and family relationships were described. In the social dimension, relations of gender and ethnicity regarding the access to health, education, justice, leisure and sport were described. In the programmatic dimension, public policies, integrality and equity of care, protection and promotion of human rights were described. Considering the factors for child vulnerability in relation to being overweight emphasizes the urgency of implementing transdisciplinary public policies with a view to an ethical proposal of attitude, solidarity, mutual responsibility and respect for human dignity.