OBJECTIVES: to determine overweight and obesity prevalence of preschool children in two private schools in Recife. METHODS: cross-sectional study of 230 preschool children enrolled in two private schools in Recife, in 2000. Overweight was defined as weight-for-height between +1 and +2 z scores, and obesity as weight-for-height above +2 z scores. RESULTS: prevalence rates were 22,6% for overweight and 11,3% for obesity. Among female children, overweight prevalence was 27,0% and obesity prevalence was 9,8%. Among males, overweight prevalence was 17,6% and obesity prevalence was 13,0%. CONCLUSIONS: overweight and obesity prevalence were high among preschool children from high income families. Pediatricians must be aware of the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity to be able to prevent, diagnose and treat this condition.
Obesity; Child; preschool; Prevalence
