Prevalence of overweight and obesity in school adolescents of Castelo Branco district, Portugal: A study based in body mass index, waist circumference and percentage of body fat [Prevalência de excesso de peso e obesidade em estudantes adolescentes do distrito de Castelo Branco: um estudo centrado no índice de massa corporal, perímetro da cintura e percentagem de massa gorda]

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

ferreira, f (Author) Other; mota, ja (Author) FADEUP; duarte, j (Author) FADEUP

Journal

Title: Revista Portuguesa de Saude Publica

Vol. 30

Pages: 47-54

ISSN: 0870-9025

Publisher: Elsevier Doyma

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge

Scopus - 4 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-008-4B4

DOI: 10.1016/j.rpsp.2012.03.002

Abstract (EN): The aim of this cross sectional study was to estimate the prevalence of pre-obesity and obesity among young students of Castelo Branco district, Portugal. We evaluated a total of 1084 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years old. Determination of pre-obesity and obesity was obtained by body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and percentage of body fat, obtained by bioimpedance (%BF). The overall prevalence of pre-obesity and obesity were 17.3% and 3.7%, according to BMI; 22.2% and 33%, according to PC; 10.9% and 11.7%, according to %BF, respectively. According to BMI, the prevalence of pre-obesity and obesity was 17.3% and 2.5% in girls, 17.2% and 4.9% in boys, respectively. According to WC, the prevalence of pre-obesity and obesity was 22.7% and 37.9% in girls, 21.7% and 28% in boys, respectively. According to %BF, the prevalence of pre-obesity and obesity is 13.4% and 12.2% in girls and 8.3% and 11.2% in boys, respectively. It was find a high prevalence of pre-obesity and obesity among young students of Castelo Branco district and this may vary according to the techniques and cutoff points used for diagnosis. This study also draws attention to the promotion of strategies to regulate the increase of pre-obesity and obesity among adolescents using various diagnose techniques, including techniques of fat location.

Language: Portuguese

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8