Prevalence of overweight preschool children in public day care centers: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: 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. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study in municipal day care centers in Taubaté, state of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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 1 z) foi de 28,86% e de crianças abaixo do peso ideal (IMC < -2 z) foi de 0,89%. Não houve diferença das médias de IMC entre as idades de dois e três anos (P = 0,66). CONCLUSÃO: Na população de crianças de dois e três anos de idade, já se evidencia elevada prevalência de excesso de peso, praticamente sem desnutrição, indicando que já pode estar ocorrendo uma transição nutricional importante inclusive em cidades médias de países em desenvolvimento.