Resumo

VIVEIRO, Carolina; BRITO, Sara  e  MOLEIRO, Pascoal. Pediatric overweight and obesity: The Portuguese reality. Rev. Port. Sau. Pub. [online]. 2016, vol.34, n.1, pp.30-37. ISSN 0870-9025.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rpsp.2015.07.004.

Purpose To describe and compare the prevalence of overweight and obesity using in a sample of Portuguese children and adolescents using three body mass index (BMI)-based criteria (Center for Disease Control and Prevention - CDC, World Health Organization-WHO and International Obesity Task Force-IOTF). Methods Cross-sectional descriptive study. Population sample composed by children and adolescents, who participated in a national screening, that took place in 17 Portuguese cities between 2007 and 2009, as part of a national screening for childhood obesity promoted by Ambulatory Pediatric Department of the Portuguese Pediatric Society. Weight and height were collected and BMI(kg/m²) was calculated according to the formula: weight(kg)/height(m)². Data were analyzed using the criteria established by the references applied. The kappa coefficients were calculated for the degree of agreement between criteria. Results 6175 children and adolescents were screened, mean age 8.3 years, 52% female. According to CDC criteria, the overall overweight and obesity prevalence was 18.7% and 13.4%. Applying WHO criteria, overweight and obesity prevalence were 20.5% and 14.9% respectively and 20.1% and 7.2% according to IOTF definitions. The IOTF criteria determined lower overall prevalence of obesity, showing less sensitivity in screening excessive weight. CDC and WHO criteria have proven to be more reproducible in the detection of overall obesity, which was translated by higher prevalence values. Conclusion The high rates of excessive weight in this study are consistent with literature data and justify the urgent implementation of preventive programs. Though in general there was a good agreement between the three criteria, the disparity of the results alerts for the need of careful use of references in assessment of nutritional status in pediatric populations, as well as its interpretation and comparison with literature data.

Palavras-chave : Obesity; Overweight; Pediatrics; Body Mass Index.

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