Prevalence of obesity in adolescents from Bragança Paulista and its relation to parental obesity

This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity among adolescents who attend State Schools in the city of Bragança Paulista (SP), and its relationship with parental nutritional status. This was a cross-sectional study involving 1,334 adolescents (796 [59.7%] female), ranging in age from 11 to 18 years, regularly registered in the 5th through the 12th grade. The following variables were studied: sex, age, current weight and height (in the adolescents and parents) and educational level (in the adolescents). The nutritional status was evaluated by the body mass index [BMI - weight (kg)/height (m²)], and determined according to the cut-offs previously recommended. A low prevalence of overweight and obesity was found among adolescents (7.3 and 3.5%, respectively) and a high prevalence of obesity among adolescents whose parents (father and mother) were obese (26.09%), as compared to parents with normal weight (9.29%). Obesity appears not to be an issue of Public Health in this particular population but there is a relationship between adolescents obesity with theirs parents’ nutritional status.

Obesity; Adolescents; Prevalence; Nutritional status