OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between socioeconomic status and prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents in public and private schools in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with 1 ,158 adolescents, 587 from private schools and 571 from public schools. The body mass index and the socioeconomic status of the family using the Economic Classification Criteria of Brazil were determined. RESULTS: Overweight and obesity were found to be more prevalent among wealthier families (24.8%) than among poorer families (17.4%). Males of wealthier families were more likely to be overweight and obese than those of poorer families; the same was not observed among females. Among the adolescents aging 10 to 14 years, excess weight was more common in the wealthier families, but the same was not observed among adolescents aging from 15 to 19 years. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of overweight and obesity of adolescents in the City of Fortaleza is higher in wealthier families; male adolescents presented a direct proportional relationship between socioeconomic status and excess weight, which was not evidenced among females.
adolescent; nutritional status; socioeconomic factors; obesity
