ALMEIDA, Catarina de; MORAIS, Gisela    PINTO, Elisabete. Results from the follow-up of overweight children and adolescents in the primary health care. []. , 15, pp.12-18. ISSN 2183-5985.  https://doi.org/10.21011/apn.2018.1503.

Introduction: Childhood obesity is a Public Health challenge, for which inadequate food habits and insufficient physical activity are major risk factors and very common among children, nowadays. Objectives: The aim of this research was to assess the weight gain and health behaviors in a group of overweight or obese children and adolescents, accompanied by a nutritionist in a Portuguese primary health care unit. Some health behaviors were also evaluated in the caregivers and it was investigated if there was any association between the behaviors of both. Methodology: This study combined a retrospective approach, with collection of anthropometric and health behaviors from clinical records and a cross-sectional approach with data collection during the appointment where participant agreed to participate in the study. Caregivers answered a questionnaire about their food habits and physical activity. Results: The 36 children and adolescents, included in the study (44.4% females; median age of 14 years old) were followed-up for 3.6 years (median) and the median Z-Score for body mass index significantly decreased since the first appointment (2.70 vs. 2.18; p<0.001). Concerning the acquisition of salutogenic habits, it was observed that all participants started to eat breakfast (at the beginning only 91.7% took it), the proportion of youngers that daily consumed vegetables at lunch increased (30.6% vs. 69.4%), as well as the proportion of youngers that consumed three portions of fruit per day (11.1% vs. 33.3%). Adolescents are the ones that more frequently practice the recommended hours of physical activity. There were no associations between the behaviors of children and their caregivers. Conclusions: The follow-up of overweight and obese children and adolescents by a nutritionist, in primary health care, was effective in the acquisition of salutogenic behaviors and in the improvement of nutritional status.

: Health behaviors; Weight gain; Food and physical activity behaviors; Childhood obesity.

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