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Growth and nutritional status of children and adolescents in the city of Presidente Prudente, State of São Paulo, Brazil

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the weight, height, and Body Mass Index (BMI) of children and adolescents, in addition to the prevalence of overweight and obesity, in the city of Presidente Prudente, State of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: a sample of 1327 subjects (692 male and 635 female) aged 7-19 years were evaluated. The data were collected using the same equipment and following standard procedures described in literature. A Student's t test was used to compare independent variables (p<0.05). Percentiles were calculated using SPSS, version 10.0 and plotted using Minitab, version 14.0. The 85 and 95 percentiles were used for classification of overweight and obesity, and were analysed in relation to two more internationally accepted studies. RESULTS: the weight and height are higher than in other studies carried out in Brazil and similar to those in a number of developed countries. The BMI figures revealed a high prevalence of overweight, and obesity, mainly in the male group between 7 and 10 years. This prevalence was less marked in the female group, especially among adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: the growth of this sample is above that observed in other Brazilian regions, and comparable to some developed countries. However, the BMI indicates a high prevalence of overweight and obesity.

Growth; Nutritional status; Body mass index; Overweight; Obesity


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