The relationship between parental nutritional status and overweight children/adolescents in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Gender, Socioeconomic Status, and Diet Behaviors within Brazilian Families

Existing literature documents the key role that parents play in transmitting diet behaviors to their children; however, less is known about differences by parent and child gender within families, especially with attention to household socioeconomic status (SES). We use nationally representative household data from Brazil and ask how parent-child associations of diet behavior differ by gender within lower- and higher-SES households. Results indicate that both maternal and paternal diet behaviors are associated with sons' and daughters' diet behaviors, but the strength of these associations differs depending on the gender of both the parent and the child. Moreover, gender differences in parent-child diet resemblance exist primarily in lower-, but not in higher-SES households. These findings are important for understanding health processes that occur within families and lead to disparities across generations, especially in a middle-income country undergoing sharp economic and nutritional changes.

Excesso de peso em adolescentes e estado nutricional dos pais: uma revisão sistemática

Resumo O objetivo do presente estudo é verificar a associação entre o excesso de peso em adolescentes e o estado nutricional dos pais e identificar possíveis fatores determinantes. A pesquisa foi realizada nas bases de dados Pubmed, Lilacs, Scielo e Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde (BVS), considerando-se o período de 2004 a 2014. Os descritores usados foram: “Adolescente”, “Fatores de risco”, “Obesidade”, “Pais” e “Sobrepeso”. Dos 366 artigos encontrados, apenas 07 atenderam a todos os critérios de elegibilidade. Notou-se nos adolescentes prevalência de sobrepeso mais elevada nos estudos realizados no Brasile na Grécia, enquanto a prevalência de obesidade foi maior nos estudos conduzidos nos Estados Unidos. Foram verificadas maiores prevalências de excesso de peso em adolescentes do sexo masculino. Todos os trabalhos mostraram que a presença de sobrepeso ou obesidade no pai ou na mãe aumenta o risco dos adolescentes desenvolverem excesso de peso, e esse risco é ainda maior quando ambos os pais são obesos. A grande associação entre excesso de peso nos adolescentes e estado nutricional dos pais está relacionada com inúmeros fatores, dessa forma, a presença de um fator de risco, como, por exemplo, a predisposição genética, pode ser amenizada por um fator de proteção, como hábitos alimentares saudáveis.

Associação entre estado nutricional da mãe e a frequência, local e companhia durante as refeições com o sobrepeso/obesidade de adolescentes da cidade de Florianópolis, Brasil

Objetivos:Objetivos: estimar a prevalência de sobrepeso/obesidade e analisar a associação entre estado nutricional da mãe, fatores sociodemográ-ficos, frequência, local e companhia nas refeições e sobrepeso/obesidade em escolares de 11 a 14 anos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina.Métodos:estudo transversal com 962 adolescentes de escolas públicas e privadas. O sobrepeso/obesidade foi definido de acordo com a Organização Mundial da Saúde. As variáveis independentes foram: rede de ensino, sexo do escolar, escolaridade e estado nutricional da mãe, renda familiar mensal, frequência, local e companhia nas refeições. Foram realizadas análises brutas e ajustadas por meio da regressão de Poisson estimando-se razões de prevalência e intervalos de confiança de 95%.Resultados:a prevalência de sobrepeso/obesi-dade foi de 29,8% (IC95%: 25,7-33,9), sendo 11,6% de obesidade e 18,3% de sobrepeso. Entre alunos da rede pública, o sobrepeso/obesidade esteve associado ao sobrepeso/obesidade da mãe, maior número de realização de café da manhã, almoçar na escola ou em outro local e café da manhã na companhia de outras pessoas, enquanto que entre estudantes da rede privada, o evento esteve associado ao sobrepeso/obesidade da mãe.Conclusões:a elevada prevalência de sobrepeso/obesidade, tanto na rede pública quanto na privada, evidencia a necessidade de mais atenção para os fatores associados, tais como sobrepeso/obesidade da mãe, frequência, local e companhia nas refeições.

Nutritional status of children under 5 years of age in the Brazilian Western Amazon before and after the Interoceanic highway paving: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence of undernutrition, overweight and associated factors, before and after the implementation of the Interoceanic Highway.

METHODS

A population-based cross-sectional study on children under 5 years of age was conducted in the municipality of Assis Brasil, AC, Brazil, in 2003 and 2010. Prevalence of undernutrition was observed by using height-for-age Z-scores (HAZ) and adopting a cut-off point equal to or lower than a -2 Z-score. Overweight prevalence was defined by a cut-off point equal to or greater than a +2 Z-score of the WHZ index. Z-scores were calculated relative to WHO 2006 reference data. Semi-structured questionnaires were applied to the children's guardians, investigating family socio-economic and demographic characteristics, morbidities, access to services and child care. Associated factors were identified by hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The prevalence of low HAZ (undernutrition) was 7.0% in 2003 and 12.2% in 2010. The prevalence of high WHZ (overweight) was 1.0% and 6.6% for 2003 and 2010, respectively. It was not possible to adjust the multiple model for the year 2003. The factors associated with low HAZ in 2010 were: wealth index, the situation of living with biological parents, maternal height and presence of open sewage, whereas the factors associated with a high WHZ in the same year were: child's age, mother's time of residence in the location, mother's body mass index.

CONCLUSIONS

Overweight increase within this undernutrition scenario reveals that the process of nutritional transition began in this Amazonian city only in the last decade, and therefore, it is delayed when compared to overweight in other parts of Brazil. Such nutritional transition in Assis Brasil may have been facilitated by the construction of the Interoceanic Highway.

Association between child and adolescent obesity and parental weight status: a cross-sectional study from rural North China

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between child and adolescent obesity, and parental weight status.

METHODS

Height and weight were measured in Chinese children and adolescents aged 6-17 years old. Information was collected concerning parental weight and height, and possible covariates, using a questionnaire. The body mass index (BMI) of each study participant and their parents was calculated. On the basis of the BMI, parents were categorized as normal, overweight or obese, and children and adolescents were categorized as normal or obese.

RESULTS

Of the 5,041 participants included in the study, 6.82% were obese. Child or adolescent obesity was significantly associated with parental obesity. When both parents were obese, there was a 3.62-fold increased risk of obesity compared with those whose parents were of normal weight. Obesity in fathers was associated with a heightened risk of obesity in female children, whereas obesity in mothers was associated with a heightened risk of obesity in male children.

CONCLUSIONS

Parental obesity was a predictor of obesity in children and adolescents. It is therefore of key importance to prevent obesity in children who have one or more obese parents.

The relationship between family and child weight status by household structure in South Korea: 2007-2010

Objective:

Parental obesity has been identified as a predominant risk factor for childhood overweight and obesity. We investigated the relationship between parent and child obesity in South Korea, particularly linked with varying family structures.

Subjects and methods:

Data for households with children aged 2–18 years were taken from the pooled data of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2007–2010 conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The sample consisted of 17 453 individuals (7879 children and 9574 adults) from 5048 households with children for this study. Children's overweight and obesity prevalence was compared using both International Obesity Taskforce (IOTF) and KCDC cutoff points according to parental weight status and household structure. Logistic regression analysis was used.

Results:

Significantly greater odds of overweight and obesity existed among children living with both parents (odds ratio (OR)=3.5, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.71, 4.65) or one parent (mother: OR=1.6, 95% CI: 1.22, 2.12; father: OR=1.7, 95% CI: 1.37, 1.99). The adjusted ORs for overweight and obesity among children living with overweight mother only or overweight grandparent only were approximately double that of children living with normal-weight mother (OR=2.2, 95% CI: 1.22–3.82) or normal-weight grandparent (OR=2.1, 95% CI: 1.06–4.05).

Conclusion:

Children living with overweight parent(s) or grandparent(s) were positively correlated with the risk for childhood overweight and obesity. Socioeconomic status did not affect the observed relationships in this population, whereas the role of genetic, dietary and activity patterns requires further exploration.

[Overweight and obesity in prepubertal schoolchildren: the association with low birth weight and family antecedents of cardiovascular disease. Embu - metropolitan region of São Paulo, 2006]

The aim was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in schoolchildren and the association with birth weight and family antecedents of cardiovascular disease. This cross-sectional study used a probabilistic sample of 929 schoolchildren aged 6 to 10 years. The variables were: body mass index (BMI), birth weight and family antecedents of cardiovascular disease. The statistical analysis consisted of the chi-square test (Pearson) and odds ratio, as association measurements. Of the schoolchildren (54.6% of which were female), 14.4% and 13.3% were overweight and obese, respectively. Low birth weight was reported among 9.4% and family antecedents of cardiovascular disease among 35.2%. Overweight or obesity (BMI e" P85) was associated with the presence of family antecedents of cardiovascular disease (OR = 1.66; 95% CI 1.23-2.23) and male sex (OR = 1.37; 95%CI 1.02-1.83); there was no association with birth weight. The results indicate the need for preventive actions for children with family antecedents of cardiovascular disease.

Socioeconomic status as determinant of risk factors for overweight in adolescents

OBJECTIVES

To analyze risk factors for overweight among adolescents grouped in three different socioeconomic levels.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 1779 adolescents aged 11 to 17 years, grouped according to socioeconomic status (low, middle, and high). Parents reported their own anthropometric data and the adolescents had their anthropometric data taken by trained researchers, and completed three questionnaires.

RESULTS

The prevalence of overweight was 16.7%, 23.8%, and 26.3% in low, middle and high socioeconomic status, respectively (P= 0.001). In all socioeconomic status, parent's overweight was associated with adolescent overweight (all P< 0.05). The students in both high (PR= 1.90) and middle socioeconomic status (PR= 2.00) from private schools were associated with overweight, and the students from low socioeconomic level to sedentary behavior (PR= 2.25) and high ingestion of fried food (PR= 2.35).

CONCLUSION

In each socioeconomic status the overweight was associated with different risk factors in different ways, except for parents overweight.

Linking psychosocial stressors and childhood obesity

Research has established a wide array of genetic and environmental factors that are associated with childhood obesity. The focus of this review is on recent work that has established the relationship between one set of environmental factors, stressors and childhood obesity. These stressors are particularly prevalent for low-income children, a demographic group that has high rates of obesity in the USA and other developed countries. In this review, we begin by summarizing the psychosocial stressors faced by children followed by health outcomes associated with exposure to these stressors documented in the literature. We then summarize 11 articles which examined the connection between psychosocial stressors in the household and obesity and eight articles which examined the connection between individual psychosocial stressors and obesity. Policy recommendations emerging from this research include recognizing reductions in childhood obesity as a potential added benefit of social safety net programmes that reduce financial stress among families. In addition, policies and programmes geared towards childhood obesity prevention should focus on helping children build resources and capacities to teach them how to cope effectively with stressor exposure. We conclude with suggestions for future research.

Júnior IF, Oliveira ARD. Atividade física: prevalência, fatores relacionados e associação entre pais e filhos

OBJETIVO: Analisar a associação entre a prática esportiva de adolescentes e seus respectivos pais. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal envolvendo 1.111 adolescentes de ambos os gêneros, com idade entre dez e 17 anos e seus respectivos responsáveis. Entre pais e filhos, o envolvimento em práticas esportivas de intensidade moderada e/ou vigorosa foi avaliado por meio de questionário. A condição econômica, o gênero e a idade foram considerados variáveis de confusão. A regressão logística binária avaliou a magnitude das associações indicadas pelo teste do qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS: Em ambos os gêneros, o envolvimento dos pais foi associado com um maior engajamento por parte do adolescente em práticas esportivas (masculino: OR2,3; IC95%1,0-5,3; feminino: OR2,7; IC95%1,3-5,1). Porém, o envolvimento materno foi associado apenas com a atividade física no sexo feminino (OR2,4; IC95%1,4-3,8). CONCLUSÕES: A prática esportiva dos adolescentes está associada com a prática de seus pais e o gênero dos pais exerce efeitos distintos em tal fenômeno.

Overweight and obesity and their correlates among Jordanian adolescents

PURPOSE

To provide current estimates of the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Jordanian adolescents 14 to 17 years of age living in Irbid Governorate, and to determine the factors that are associated with overweight and obesity.

DESIGN

Descriptive correlational cross-sectional design was used.

METHODS

Body mass index, perceived stress, dietary habits, physical activity, and demographics of 824 Jordanian adolescents living in Irbid were measured through a multistage cluster sampling method.

FINDINGS

The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was 19.1% and 6.3%, respectively. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among boys was 17.2% and 5.7%, respectively, and among girls was 21.0% and 7.0%, respectively. Both overweight and obesity rates were higher among girls. Physical activity, mother's educational level, and number of family members were negatively correlated with overweight and obesity. On the other hand, eating breakfast regularly, mother's weight, consumption of fried food, and perceived stress level were positively correlated with overweight and obesity.

CONCLUSIONS

Overweight and obesity are becoming a health problem among both boys and girls in Jordan.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Detecting the prevalence and the associated factors of overweight and obesity among adolescents is the first step toward proposing intervention strategies.

[Risk factors associated with overweight among adolescents from western Sao Paulo state]

The objective of this study was to analyze the association between being overweight and family risk factors in adolescents from Western Sao Paulo state. This cross-sectional study involved 1779 adolescents of both genders and with ages ranging between 11 and 17 years. The participants' body mass index was calculated, and the family risk factors were analyzed through a questionnaire. Excessive weight was associated with the male gender (CR = 1.55 [1.22-1.97]), studying in a private school (CR = 2.14 [1.56-2.94]) and mother's higher education (CR = 0.52 [0.33-0.83]). There is a need to implement initiatives to fight obesity in the school environment and reach the whole family structure, taking gender-related specificities into consideration.

Prevalence and risk factors of overweight and obesity among urban school children in Elazig city, Eastern Turkey, 2007

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of obesity is increasing dramatically all over the world. Very little data are currently available on the prevalence of childhood obesity in Turkey, and more research on the risk factors is required before preventive public health programmes can be put into practice.

AIM

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity and related factors in primary school students in Elazig, a city in eastern Turkey.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

In March-June 2007 a cross-sectional study of children aged 6-11 years old was performed. A total of 1782 girls and 1860 boys were observed. Weight and height were measured. Overweight and obesity using age- and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) cut-off points as defined by the International Obesity Taskforce were used.

RESULTS

Prevalence of overweight and obesity were 13.2% and 1.6%, respectively. According to gender, the prevalence of obesity in boys was 2.0% and overweight was 13.9%, while in girls, obesity was 1.2% and overweight was 12.5%. We found that overweight and obesity may be related to factors such as eating while watching television, and eating fast food.

CONCLUSION

It was noted as a health problem that there are overweight students aged between 6 and 11 years attending primary schools in Elazig province.

Estilo de vida e fatores de risco associados ao aumento da gordura corporal de mulheres

Os objetivos eram descrever a associação entre índice de massa corporal (IMC, kg/m²), porcentagem de gordura e fatores de risco para doenças metabólicas; observar a prevalência da síndrome metabólica e relacionar às características de mulheres com sobrepeso e obesas. As voluntárias (n=50; IMC=31±6; idade=36±11 anos) eram avaliadas quanto ao exame clínico, medidas antropométricas, coletas de sangue e urina, gasto energético de repouso e registro alimentar. Fases em que se tornaram obesas em ordem decrescente: idade adulta, gravidez, adolescência, depois dos 40 anos e depois do casamento. O odds de ter um ou mais familiares obesos era de 316%. Eram ansiosas (60%), depressivas (12%), compulsivas (34%) e com distúrbios do sono (32%). O odds para dislipidemia era 28%, hipertensão, 25% e para glicemia acima de 100 mg/dL era de 35%. Elas estavam em déficit calórico, mas o balanço nitrogenado era positivo. A síndrome metabólica era presente em 25% delas e estava positivamente correlacionada a indicadores da gordura corporal e idade. A obesidade destas mulheres era multifatorial com influência familiar, podendo ter contribuições genéticas e ambientais. O equilíbrio físico/emocional parece ter influenciado neste processo.

Fatores associados ao excesso de peso entre adolescentes de diferentes redes de ensino do município de Presidente Prudente, São Paulo

OBJETIVO: analisar associações entre excesso de peso e fatores de risco familiares em diferentes âmbitos escolares. MÉTODOS: estudo descritivo/analítico de delineamento transversal com 1779 adolescentes (11 a 17 anos) de ambos os sexos, da rede pública (n=1309) e privada de ensino (n=470). Foram avaliados os fatores familiares: sexo, condição econômica, número de irmãos/televisores e escolaridade dos pais. A razão de prevalência (RP) em modelo univariado e multivariado indicou a magnitude das associações analisadas. RESULTADOS: nas escolas particulares, o excesso de peso associou-se com a escolaridade paterna (RP= 0,68 [0,5-0,9]) e sexo masculino (RP= 1,38 [1,0-1,8]). Nas escolas públicas, com a escolaridade materna (RP= 1,42 [1,1-1,8]), menor número de irmãos (RP= 1,23 [0,9-1,5]) e sexo masculino (RP= 1,32 [1,6-1,6]). CONCLUSÕES: o excesso de peso associou-se com diferentes fatores familiares, dependendo da rede de ensino em que foi analisado.

Fatores familiares associados à obesidade abdominal entre adolescentes

OBJETIVOS: analisar a associação entre fatores de risco familiares e a presença de obesidade abdominal entre adolescentes. MÉTODOS: a amostra foi composta por 691 jovens de ambos os gêneros (11 a 17 anos), residentes em Presidente Prudente-SP no ano de 2007. A identificação da obesidade abdominal foi baseada no valor da circunferência de cintura, e os fatores de risco familiares (escolaridade e excesso de peso dos pais, condição socioeconômica, número de irmãos e quantidade de televisores na residência) foram analisados por meio de questionários. A análise estatística utilizou o teste qui-quadrado e regressão logística (razão de chance [RC] e intervalos de confiança [IC95%]). RESULTADOS: a prevalência de obesidade abdominal foi igual a 14,8% na amostra avaliada e não foi diferente entre os gêneros (masculino: 17,7% e feminino: 12,9%; p=0,111). A obesidade abdominal associou-se com a rede privada de ensino (3,75 [1,27-11,00]), sobrepeso/obesidade da mãe (3,82 [1,14-12,73]) e de ambos os pais (6,21 [2,07-18,63]). CONCLUSÕES: os achados do presente estudo indicam que estudar na rede privada de ensino e o excesso de peso dos pais caracterizam importantes fatores de risco associados à presença da obesidade abdominal entre adolescentes.

Fatores ambientais associados ao sobrepeso infantil

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os fatores ambientais intra-uterinos, perinatais e familiares associados ao sobrepeso infantil, ainda controversos na literatura. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal realizado com 627 crianças, de 6 a 10 anos, matriculadas em escolas urbanas públicas e privadas do município de Viçosa (MG). O estado nutricional das crianças foi classificado pelo índice de massa corporal, segundo a preconização do Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Foram aferidas as medidas de peso, estatura, pregas cutâneas tricipital e subescapular, circunferências da cintura e do quadril e pressão arterial das crianças, sendo os fatores ambientais obtidos por meio de questionário, segundo informações maternas. Classificou-se o estado nutricional das mães segundo a recomendação do World Health Organization. RESULTADOS: Do total de crianças, 87,9% eram eutróficas e 12,1% apresentavam sobrepeso. De acordo com a análise de regressão logística múltipla, os fatores associados ao sobrepeso infantil foram apresentar mãe obesa (OR: 6,92; p<0,001), ser filho unigênito (OR: 1,87; p=0,03), permacer tempo superior a 3 horas diárias em frente à televisão (OR: 1,91; p=0,04), não realizar educação física na escola (OR: 4,80; p=0,02) e ser do sexo masculino (OR: 2,60; p=0,001). CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo permite elucidar a identificação de fatores ambientais, potencialmente modificáveis, associados ao sobrepeso infantil no município de Viçosa. A determinação dos fatores ambientais é importante, uma vez que o aumento na prevalência do sobrepeso na infância não pode ser totalmente explicado pelos fatores genéticos.

Fatores de risco para sobrepeso entre adolescentes: análise de três cidades brasileiras

OBJETIVO: Realizar análise comparativa de fatores de risco para sobrepeso em adolescentes de três cidades brasileiras, Pelotas, São Paulo e Goiânia. MÉTODOS: Os três bancos de dados são provenientes de estudos com delineamento do tipo caso-controle, que investigaram fatores de risco para sobrepeso/obesidade entre adolescentes das três cidades. Classificaram-se os adolescentes como sobrepeso quando o Índice de Massa Corporal estava acima do percentil 85 em relação ao padrão de referência do National Center for Health Statistcs. Procedeu-se à análise multivariada com modelo hierárquico de regressão logística. RESULTADOS: Foram estudados 903 adolescentes pós-púberes (443 casos e 460 controles). A análise não-ajustada dos três bancos de dados combinados aumentou o poder das associações quando meninos e meninas foram considerados separadamente. Educação materna menor ou igual a 8 anos duplicou o risco de sobrepeso entre meninas; obesidade dos pais esteve fortemente associada ao sobrepeso dos adolescentes; tempo de televisão maior ou igual a 4 horas associou-se ao sobrepeso apenas entre meninas; consumo de gordura visível da carne aumentou o risco de sobrepeso entre os meninos em 70% e consumo de frituras apresentou associação inversa entre as meninas. Finalmente, o consumo de álcool esteve significante e inversamente associado ao sobrepeso entre meninos. CONCLUSÃO: Meninas pós-púberes, provenientes de famílias com baixa escolaridade, devem receber atenção especial durante o planejamento e a execução de estratégias de prevenção e controle do sobrepeso.

The female-male disparity in obesity prevalence among black American young adults: contributions of sociodemographic characteristics of the childhood family

BACKGROUND

In the United States, black women are at much greater risk of obesity than are black men. Little is known about the factors underlying this disparity.

OBJECTIVE

We explored whether childhood sociodemographic factors (parental education, single-mother household, number of siblings, number of minors in household, birth order, and female caregiver's age) were associated with the gender disparity in obesity prevalence in young black adults in the United States.

DESIGN

An analytic data set (n = 7747) was constructed from the nationally representative National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Childhood sociodemographic factors were assessed in 1994-1995 in nonimmigrant black and white youths aged 11-19 y. Obesity was assessed in 2001-2002. For each childhood sociodemographic factor, we evaluated whether the prevalence difference (female obesity minus male obesity) was modified by the factor. We described the contribution of each variable category to the overall prevalence difference.

RESULTS

In unadjusted and multivariable-adjusted models, parental education consistently modified gender disparity in blacks (P = 0.01). The gender gap was largest with low parental education (16.7% of men compared with 45.4% of women were obese) and smallest with high parental education (28.5% of men compared with 31.4% of women were obese). In whites, there was little overall gender difference in obesity prevalence.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this was the first study to document that the gender disparity in obesity prevalence in young black adults is concentrated in families with low parental education. In these low-socioeconomic-status families, obesity development is either under the control of distinct mechanisms in each gender, or men and women from these households adopt different obesity-related behaviors.

Metabolic syndrome among prepubertal Brazilian schoolchildren

This was a two-stage cross-sectional study that assessed metabolic syndrome and associated factors among prepubertal schoolchildren. In the first stage, nutritional status, blood pressure, personal (low birth weight) and family antecedents for cardiovascular disease (CVD) were collected. In the second stage, schoolchildren with at least one of these criteria participated: obesity, personal or family history. Metabolic syndrome (MS) was defined by ATP III and WHO definitions. Among 929 (6-10 year old) schoolchildren, 27.7% presented with overweight/obesity, 12.2% hypertension, and personal (9.4%) and family (35.3%) antecedents. 205 children finished the second stage. The frequencies of MS-ATP and MS-WHO were 9.3% and 1.9%. Among the obese, MS was present in 25.8% (ATP) and 5.2% (WHO). Children with normal weight presented: low HDL (23.6%), hyperglycaemia (3.6%), HOMA-IR (0.9%) and MS-ATP (0.9%). In conclusion, overweight/obesity was associated with metabolic syndrome in schoolchildren. It was found that children with normal weight with personal and/or family antecedents presented with HOMA-IR and MS-ATP.

Prevalence of overweight and associated factors in southern Brazilian adolescents

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight in adolescents in a southern Brazilian city, and ascertain gender differences and association with socio-economic and demographic conditions, family factors and individual behaviours.

METHODS

Cross-sectional population-based study with random cluster sampling of households, including 722 adolescents (10-19 years), from a city in southern Brazil. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on the National Center for Health and Statistics reference curve, defining overweight as BMI 85th percentile.

RESULTS

Prevalence of overweight was 17% in girls and 19% in boys. In multivariate Poisson regression, chronic illness in parent(s) and household of up to four people were associated with overweight in boys, whereas low fibre intake, more hours spent watching television and regular exercise were associated with overweight in girls.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of overweight in Brazilian adolescents is high, with gender differences in associated factors. Health workers in schools and public health services should be aware of these differences in order to improve preventive and therapeutic strategies in this age group.

Associação de fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares em adolescentes e seus pais

OBJETIVOS: verificar a agregação familiar de fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares, observando freqüência de excesso de peso e obesidade, sedentarismo, tabagismo e hipertensão arterial. MÉTODOS: estudo transversal com 421 adolescentes, alunos da rede pública de ensino da cidade do Recife, e com seus pais. O protocolo de avaliação consistiu de um questionário estruturado, antropometria e aferição da pressão arterial. As associações das variáveis foram verificadas pelo teste do qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS: foram avaliados 421 adolescentes (173 do sexo masculikno e 248 do sexo feminino (média de idade 16,0 ± 0,7 anos). Demonstrou-se excesso de peso e obesidade em 7,8% dos adolescentes, 18,8% dos pais e 19,8% das mães. Sedentarismo foi detectado em 41,5% dos adolescentes, 61,0% dos pais e 61,7% das mães. Hábito de fumar foi observado em 7,8% dos adolescentes, 14,7% dos pais e 13,0% das mães. Hipertensão ocorreu em 11,4% dos adolescentes, 20,3% dos pais e 10,2% das mães. Fatores de risco nos pais ou nas mães estiveram associadas com maior freqüência desses mesmos fatores nos filhos, exceto hipertensão arterial. CONCLUSÕES: há correlação familiar entre obesidade, tabagismo e sedentarismo confirmando a influência da família nesses fatores de risco para as doenças cardiovasculares.

Fatores associados ao sobrepeso em escolares

OBJETIVO: Identificar variáveis associadas ao sobrepeso em escolares de Cuiabá, MT, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Foi feito um estudo de caso-controle a partir de um inquérito antropométrico, aplicado em uma amostra aleatória de alunos da primeira série do ensino fundamental, com idades entre 6 e 11 anos. Foram incluídos, como casos, os 158 escolares que apresentaram sobrepeso (índice de massa muscular >P85) e, como controles, 316 crianças sorteadas entre as que apresentaram índice de massa muscular<P85. Informações socioeconômicas, do domicílio, da família e de atividade física dos escolares foram obtidas por meio de entrevistas. Foram tomadas medidas de peso e altura da criança e dos pais por antropometristas treinados. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de regressão logística múltipla hierarquizada. RESULTADOS: O sobrepeso foi maior em escolares com renda familiar per capita >3 salários mínimos (OR= 3,75), que tinham mães de idade entre 25 e 29 anos (OR=1,74) e com nível mais alto de escolaridade (OR=1,91) e com história de apenas uma união conjugal (OR=2,53); também foi maior nos escolares, de sexo feminino (OR=2,15), que possuíam no máximo um irmão (OR=1,94), brincavam <10h por semana (OR=2,58), tinham mães e pais com índice de massa muscular >30 (OR= 7,27 e 2,65, respectivamente) e nasceram com peso >3500g (OR= 2,27). CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados apontam que variáveis de diferentes níveis hierárquicos se associam na configuração de contextos favoráveis ao aumento do sobrepeso em escolares e fornecem subsídios para o desenvolvimento de intervenções que considerem os grupos mais vulneráveis à presença de sobrepeso.

Childhood influences on youth obesity

We develop a model to estimate the influence of child and parental characteristics on the likelihood that a child will become an obese or overweight youth. We use this model to test whether it is possible to forecast obesity and overweight among youth. Comparing Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) scores from these forecasts, we find that a model using childhood covariates does as well in forecasting youth obesity and overweight as a model using the covariate values contemporaneous with the youth obesity and overweight outcomes. The datasets used in this paper, the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79) and the NLSY79 Children and Young Adults, provide data from 1986 to 2002, allowing for the study of a child's transition to and from obesity or overweight over a long period. Explanatory variables that significantly influence the likelihood of youth obesity or overweight outcomes include the mother's obesity status and education, the youth's mental health, and certain demographic features including race, sex, and family size. These factors provide potential targets for policies that could be implemented early in life among children most likely to become obese or overweight.