The aim of this study was to analyze the anthropometric characteristics and overweight according to chronological age and sexual maturation of school children from São José dos Campos - SP. The sample consisted by 2.802 school children of 10 to 12 years old of both sexes, 1.522 boys. Variables measured were: height, weight, waist circumference, triceps and subscapular skinfolds thickness and the body mass index (BMI). We used the cutoff points of Cole et al.(2000) to classify the subjects according to sex and age. To determine the maturation stage was utilized the Tanner's protocol in relation to pubic hair in both girls and boys. No differences was verified in overweight in accordance with maturation state. In boys the prevalence of overweight increased after P3 (P1: 22,4%; P2: 23,7%; P3: 27,8%) and decreased to P4 (22,7%). In girls, overweight increased after P2 (P1: 18%; P2: 22,2%) and decreased in other stages (P3: 21,7%; P4: 14,1%). In the present study, the results shown that sexual maturation process has an influence on the prevalence of overweight different in boys and girls, there were reported the same results in the literature.
Sexual maturation; Overweight; Obesity; Body composition
