Abstract

SALDIVA, Silvia Regina Dias Medici; ESCUDER, Maria Mercedes Loureiro; VENANCIO, Sonia Isoyama  and  BENICIO, Maria Helena D'Aquino. Prevalence of obesity in preschool children from five towns in São Paulo State, Brazil. Cad. Saúde Pública [online]. 2004, vol.20, n.6, pp. 1627-1632. ISSN 0102-311X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2004000600021.

Health and nutritional characteristics of children under 5 years of age were investigated through a cross-sectional study in 5 small cities from different regions in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, which displayed different socioeconomic profiles: Bady Bassit, Bofete, Jaborandi, Morungaba, and Riversul. Data were obtained using a systematic sampling from the 1991 National Census. Anthropometric data were collected from all children under 5 years of age living in the selected households. Nutritional status was determined by height/age and weight/height according to the National Center for Health Statistics - NCHS standards. Stunting was defined as HAZ below - 2 Z scores and obesity as WHZ above 2 Z scores. The study sample consisted of 987 children (490 boys and 497 girls). Prevalence of obesity was 6.6% (65) and stunting 5.0% (51). Per capita income displayed a significant and positive association with obesity (p = 0.018), in contrast to an inverse association with stunting (p = 0.038).

Keywords : Obesity; School Health; Infant Nutrition; Anthropometry.