OBJETIVE: To compare the nutritional status and sexual maturation of adolescents 11 to 15.9 years old, from different socioeconomic levels. METHODS: Three hundred and three adolescents from one public school were evaluated, and 199 from one private school, both in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro. The nutritional status was assessed by body mass index and triciptal and subscapular skinfold thickness measurements. The sexual maturation was assessed through self-examination, identifying stages of genitals and breasts' development. RESULTS: In the public school, 2.0% of the adolescents were classified as underweight, 6.6% as overweight, and 9.2% as obese, whereas in the private school, such occurrences were 3.0%, 9.0%, and 18.1%, respectively. Regarding these occurrences, there were no differences between sexes. On the othser hand, at the private school, greater proportion of girls presented overweight/obesity (27.1% vs 14.2%; chi ²=8.08, p=0.004), and girls and boys were more advanced in sexual maturation than their public school counterparts. Only in adolescents from public school overweight/obesity were associated with advanced sexual maturation (Odds ratio=3.52 IC 95.0% 1.76-7.07). Therefore, the total risk of overweight/obesity was higher among adolescents with advanced sexual maturation (Odds ratio=3.16, CI 95.0%=1.71-5.87). CONCLUSION: Obesity was the main nutritional problem in adolescents. The public school students presented sexual maturation, later than the private school ones.
adolescent; nutrition assessment; sexual maturation
