We aimed to estimate the prevalence of high body adiposity and its association with musculoskeletal fitness in male children and adolescents according to socioeconomic status. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out with 1,531 school children (6-17 years old) attending public schools in Cascavel, state of Paraná, Brazil. Body adiposity was estimated based on skinfold thickness. Information was also collected on chronological age, socioeconomic status, sexual maturation, performance in physical tests such as sit and reach, 1-minute sit-up, stationary long jump and Shuttle run. Statistical analyses were performed (Student's unpaired t test and Poisson regression) taking into consideration socioeconomic status (high and low+middle), with p<0.05. High body adiposity was observed in 30.4% of the sample, and was greater (p<0.05) among those of high socioeconomic status (33.3% vs 28.3%). After adjustment for all variables, high body adiposity was associated with low abdominal resistance (PR=1.44; CI95%=1.05-1.99) and lower limb power (PR=2.09; CI95%=1.46-1.98) in the low socioeconomic status group. In the high socioeconomic status group, the outcome was associated with low abdominal resistance (PR=1.72; CI95%=1.17-2.51) and with intermediate (PR=2.83; CI95%=1.76-4.55) and low (PR=3.90; CI95%=2.38-6.38) lower limb power. In both socioeconomic levels, lower musculoskeletal fitness (abdominal resistance and lower limb power) was associated with high body adiposity. However, the magnitude of the association between muscular capacity and high body adiposity seems to differ according to socioeconomic status.
Adolescent; Children; Muscle strength; Obesity
