The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status and the association of excess body weight (EBW) with gender and age among children and adolescents from the town of Vilhena, Rondonia, Brazil. A total of 5,883 students, including children (6 to 11 years) and adolescents (12 to 17 years), from public schools participated in the study. Body weight and height were measured and the body mass index was calculated for subsequent classification of nutritional status. The t-test was used for comparison between genders and the chi-square test and Poisson regression were used to evaluate the association between EBW, gender, and age. Data were analyzed with the SPSS 11.0 program at a level of significance of p < 0.05. The prevalence of EBW was 19.3% among children and 17.4% among adolescents. EBW was significantly associated with gender and age among children. In addition, the prevalence of EBW was higher among girls (PR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.49 to 2.21) than among boys. Adolescent girls also presented a higher prevalence of EBW than boys (PR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.49 to 2.21). The prevalence of EBW increased linearly in children (6 to 11 years) and decreased in adolescents (15 to 17 years). These results suggest that the prevalence of overweight is high among children and adolescents from northern Brazil.
Obesity; Overweight; Child; Adolescence
