Abstract

ALVES, José; GOMES, Julieta; SANTOS, Marta  and  BARROSO, Maria de Deus. Anthropometric evaluation of school children in Boticas. Rev Port Med Geral Fam [online]. 2015, vol.31, n.2, pp.134-140. ISSN 2182-5173.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of underweight, overweight, obesity, the risk of abdominal obesity and established abdominal obesity of school children in Boticas. Type of study: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Schools in Boticas, Portugal. Population: All students in Boticas in the first nine years of school in 2012-2013. Methods: The weight, height, and body mass index of the children were measured and compared with standard growth charts. Waist circumference was measured and compared with the charts of Fernandez et al. Results: In 2012-2013, 372 students attended the Gomes Monteiro Schools in Boticas. There was a prevalence of 19.7% of overweight children, with a male predominance. Obesity was found in 12.2% of students, with a female predominance. There was risk of abdominal obesity and established abdominal obesity in 45.1% of students, with a female predominance. Conclusions: Childhood obesity is a major health problem in Boticas, with a prevalence found in this study similar to that reported in the literature. This study could be the starting point for the development of an intervention program for childhood obesity.

Keywords : Overweight; Childhood Obesity; Body Mass Index; Waist Circumference.

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