Estudo nutricional dos alunos da rede nacional de ensino de Educação Infantil e Fundamental do Sesc

Abstract

Overweight and obesity is considered an important issue of the public health. International and national studies confirm that overweight and obesity have become one of the major nutrition problems in children and adolescents. The objective of this study was to identify the nutritional status of children that are enrolled in Sesc National Network of Education in Elementary Education. Cross-sectional study was condueted, in convenience sample of 20,113 students , 9,992 of grils and 10,121 of boys, in 83 schools with ages varying from 3 to 17 years. The nutritional state was determined by World Health Organization criteria, using the body mass index for age (IMC-I) and height for age. The results showed excess of body mass index of 29.7% for every children, of each 27.4% were in girls and 32.1% in boys. It was identified in the age group up to 5 years old an excess of body mass equal to 12.3% for all the children, with higher prevalence between boys 13.5% and 11% for girls. In the age group from 5 to 10 years old, the prevalence results of excess in body mass were 35.4% for girls and 40.3% for the boys, resulting in 37.8% for all the children. In the age group above 10 years, the prevalence of excess of body mass was 32.3% for girls and 42.5% for the boys, resulting in 37.4% for all the children. Regarding the prevalence in observed lower stature (Z Stature for age < -2), it was similar to the reference standard proposed by OMS, 1.6% for girls and 1.4% for boys, which indicates that lower stature is not a problem in this population. The identified prevalences of excess of body mass in all age groups were significant and the problem worsens in older children with highest percentage in boys. These findings corroborate the reported situation in national and internation studies and reinforce the need for monitoring due to aggravation related to childhood overweight.