ABSTRACT
Purpose:
to evaluate and correlate forced vital capacity and maximum phonation time in relation to abdominal circumference and nutritional status of children.
Methods:
cross-sectional study of 82 children aged between eight and ten years, divided by the nutritional status (eutrophic, overweight and obese) and the percentile of abdominal circumference (≤ 25, 25 the 75, ≥ 75). There was forced vital capacity by spirometry and maximum phonation time the /e/, /a/ and /e/ voiceless (/ė/).
Results:
the forced vital capacity was higher in children with higher abdominal circumference (p = 0.003) and percentiles of abdominal circumference 25-75 had longer sustain the vowels (p <0.05). No statistically significant difference in forced vital capacity and TMF /e,a,ė/ in relation to nutritional status. There was strong correlation between /a/ maximum phonation time and maximum phonation time /e/ (0.84).
Conclusion:
the nutritional status of children did not influence the volume of expired air and measures of maximum phonation time, but it is perceived that a higher abdominal circumference, which is located fat, increases lung function.
Keywords:
Obesity; Breathing; Voice
