Prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents in a healthcare unit from Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and comparison of the nutritional diagnosis between the CDC 2000 and WHO 2006 growth charts <b>[Abstract in English]</b>

Abstract

AIMS: To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents in a healthcare unit in Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, and to compare the nutritional diagnosis between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2000 and World Health Organization (WHO) 2006 growth charts. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study included patients from 5 to 18 years old, selected through review of the medical records, in which the last appointment with the consulting physician in the healthcare unit was between June 2007 and July 2008. Body mass index was assessed and analyzed by age and sex, and nutritional status was classified according to standard curves. RESULTS: Of the 272 patients included, 53.8% were teenagers and 56.9% were female. Prevalence of overweight was 14.4% by CDC charts and 18.4% by WHO charts. Prevalence of obesity was 15.6% according to both criteria, accounting for a total prevalence of excess weight of 30% or 33.8%. When genders were compared, prevalence of weight excess had no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of weight excess in this study was superior to those found in other similar studies. Unlike data from previous studies, boys did not have higher incidence of obesity when compared to girls in this study. When compared to the WHO 2006 chart, the CDC 2000 chart underestimated overweight and overestimated low weight.