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Nutritional status of schoolchildren aged 7-10 years enrolled in public and private schools of Cascavel, Paraná, Brazil

Estado nutricional de escolares de sete a 10 anos de escolas públicas e privadas de Cascavel, Paraná, Brasil

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To analyze the prevalence of malnutrition, overweight, and obesity in schoolchildren aged 7-10 years from public and private schools of Cascavel, Paraná, Brazil.

Methods:

Demographic information (sex, age, and type of school) and anthropometric measurements (body mass and height) were collected from 2,180 students (1,693 from public schools and 487 from private schools). The nutritional status of the children was classified according to their body mass index Z-score.

Results:

The prevalences of malnutrition, overweight, and obesity were 6.1%, 9.8% and 11.1%, respectively. Girls were 15.9% more likely to be malnourished than boys. As for overweight, 10-year-olds were 1.53 times more likely to be overweight than 7-year-olds. Children from private schools were 1.63 times more likely to be overweight and 2.88 times more likely to be obese than their public school peers.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of malnutrition and excess weight (overweight and obesity) were high, and girls were more likely to be malnourished. Ten-year-olds and children from private schools were the most affected by overweight and obesity.

Keywords:
Malnutrition; Obesity; Overweight; Health children

RESUMO

Objetivo:

Analisar a prevalência de desnutrição, sobrepeso e obesidade em escolares de sete a 10 anos em estudantes de escolas públicas e privadas de Cascavel, Paraná, Brasil.

Métodos:

Informações demográficas (sexo, idade e rede de ensino) e medidas antropométricas (massa corporal e estatura) foram obtidas de 2.180 escolares (1.693 de escolas públicas e 487 de privadas). Os valores do Escore-Z do índice de massa corporal foram adotados para a determinação do estado nutricional.

Resultados:

As taxas de prevalência de desnutrição, sobrepeso e obesidade foram na ordem de 6,1%, 9,8% e 11,1%, respectivamente. As meninas apresentaram mais chances (15,9 vezes) para o desenvolvimento de desnutrição do que os meninos. Por outro lado, crianças de 10 anos apresentaram mais chances (1,53 vezes) para desenvolverem sobrepeso em relação aos seus pares de sete anos. Adicionalmente, crianças de escolas privadas apresentaram mais chances para o desenvolvimento de sobrepeso (1,63 vezes) ou obesidade (2,88 vezes), em relação aos seus respectivos pares de escolas públicas.

Conclusão:

As taxas de prevalência de desnutrição e excesso de peso reveladas neste estudo foram elevadas, com as meninas apresentando mais chances para tornarem-se desnutridas do que os meninos. Em contrapartida, tanto o sobrepeso quanto a obesidade foram fenômenos mais frequentemente observados aos 10 anos, em escolares de ambos os sexos e naqueles matriculados na rede privada de ensino.

Palavras-chave:
Desnutrição; Obesidade; Sobrepeso; Saúde da criança

INTRODUCTION

The nutritional status of children and adolescents has been the target of numerous Brazilian11. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Pesquisa de orçamentos familiares, 2008-2009: antropometria e estado nutricional de crianças, adolescentes e adultos no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.

2. Leal VS, Lira PIC, Menezes RCE, Oliveira JS, Costa EC, Andrade SLLS. Malnutrition and excess weight in children and adolescents: A review of Brazilian studies. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2012; 30(3):415-22. http://dx. doi.org/10.1590/S0103-05822012000300017
http://dx. doi.org/10.1590/S0103-0582201...

3. Chaves APB, Queiroz LFR, Abreu MAA, Medeiros KB. Overweight and child obesity: A public health problem in schoolchildren from North to South of the country. Enferm Brasil. 2011; 10(6):371-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40608-014-0030-4
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40608-014-003...
-44. Aiello AM, Melo LM, Souza Nunes M, Soares da Silva A, Nunes A. Prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents in Brazil: A meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies. Curr Pediatr Rev. 2015; 11(1):36-42. and international55. Sukhonthachit P, Aekplakorn W, Hudthagosol C, Sirikulchayanonta C. The Association between obesity and blood pressure in Thai public school children. BMC Public Health. 2014; 14(1):729-36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-729
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-7...

6. Xie X, Wu H, Lee T, Wang CM, Zhou X, Lu Y, et al. Gender differences in home environments related to childhood obesity in Nanchang, China. Child Obes. 2014; 10(5):416-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/chi.2013.0164
http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/chi.2013.0164...

7. Chung EK, Romney MC. Social determinants of childhood obesity: Beyond individual choices. Curr Pediatr Rev. 2012; 8(3):237-52.
-88. Lazzeri G, Rossi S, Pammolli A, Pilato V, Pozzi T, Giacchi MV. Underweight and overweight among children and adolescents in Tuscany (Italy). Prevalence and short-term trends. J Prev Med Hyg. 2008; 49(1):13-21. studies. These data are critical because of the influence of underweight and excess weight (overweight and obesity) on the risk of early-onset metabolic disorders and chronic noncommunicable diseases11. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Pesquisa de orçamentos familiares, 2008-2009: antropometria e estado nutricional de crianças, adolescentes e adultos no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.,33. Chaves APB, Queiroz LFR, Abreu MAA, Medeiros KB. Overweight and child obesity: A public health problem in schoolchildren from North to South of the country. Enferm Brasil. 2011; 10(6):371-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40608-014-0030-4
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40608-014-003...
.

In this sense, a gradual reduction in the prevalence of malnutrition has been observed in Brazilian children aged 5-10 years11. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Pesquisa de orçamentos familiares, 2008-2009: antropometria e estado nutricional de crianças, adolescentes e adultos no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.. The Pesquisa Nacional de Orçamentos Familiares22. Leal VS, Lira PIC, Menezes RCE, Oliveira JS, Costa EC, Andrade SLLS. Malnutrition and excess weight in children and adolescents: A review of Brazilian studies. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2012; 30(3):415-22. http://dx. doi.org/10.1590/S0103-05822012000300017
http://dx. doi.org/10.1590/S0103-0582201...
found that the prevalence of malnourished males decreased from 5% to 2% from 1974/1975 to 1989, and increased to 4% in 2008/2009. Similarly, the prevalence of malnourished females decreased from 5.4% to 1.5% from 1974/1975 to 1989, and increased to 3.9% in 2008/2009. These data diverge from African data, where malnutrition continues to be an important public health problem99. Van Niekerk SM, Grimmer K, Louw Q. The prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in a multiracial group of urban adolescent schoolchildren in the cape metropole area of cape Town: Original research. South Afr J Clin Nutr. 2014; 27(1):18-24.,1010. Mwaniki EW, Makokha AN. Nutrition status and associated factors among children in public primary schools in Dagoretti, Nairobi, Kenya. Afr Health Sci. 2013; 13(1):39-46. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v13i1.6
http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v13i1.6...
.

On the other hand, a significant increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity has been observed in Brazilian children aged 5-10 years11. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Pesquisa de orçamentos familiares, 2008-2009: antropometria e estado nutricional de crianças, adolescentes e adultos no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.. From 1974/1975 to 2008/2009, the prevalence of overweight males increased from 10.9% to 34.8%, and that of overweight females, from 8.6% to 32.0%. During the same period, the prevalence of obese males increased from 2.9% to 16.6%, and that of obese females, from 1.8% to 11.8%11. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Pesquisa de orçamentos familiares, 2008-2009: antropometria e estado nutricional de crianças, adolescentes e adultos no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.. A recent Brazilian meta-analysis about obesity in children and adolescents found a prevalence of 14.1%, which did not differ by sex (16.1% vs. 15.0%, respectively)44. Aiello AM, Melo LM, Souza Nunes M, Soares da Silva A, Nunes A. Prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents in Brazil: A meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies. Curr Pediatr Rev. 2015; 11(1):36-42..

In Brazil childhood overweight and obesity are important public health problems that affect children of all ages, more in the South and Southeast regions than in the North/Northeast regions, probably because of the socioeconomic differences between the populations living in these regions11. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Pesquisa de orçamentos familiares, 2008-2009: antropometria e estado nutricional de crianças, adolescentes e adultos no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.,33. Chaves APB, Queiroz LFR, Abreu MAA, Medeiros KB. Overweight and child obesity: A public health problem in schoolchildren from North to South of the country. Enferm Brasil. 2011; 10(6):371-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40608-014-0030-4
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40608-014-003...
. Moreover, a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity has been observed in children from private schools compared with children from public schools22. Leal VS, Lira PIC, Menezes RCE, Oliveira JS, Costa EC, Andrade SLLS. Malnutrition and excess weight in children and adolescents: A review of Brazilian studies. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2012; 30(3):415-22. http://dx. doi.org/10.1590/S0103-05822012000300017
http://dx. doi.org/10.1590/S0103-0582201...
,33. Chaves APB, Queiroz LFR, Abreu MAA, Medeiros KB. Overweight and child obesity: A public health problem in schoolchildren from North to South of the country. Enferm Brasil. 2011; 10(6):371-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40608-014-0030-4
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40608-014-003...
,1111. Miranda JMQ, Palmeira MV, Polito LFT, Brandão MRF, Bocalini DS, Figueira Junior AJ, et al. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in childhood in educational institutions: public vs private. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2015; 21(2):104-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1517-869220152102143660
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1517-869220152...
. This phenomenon deserves attention and its analysis may promote the establishment of specific intervention actions1212. Porto ACV, Pires BAB, Coelho SC. Fast food frequency of consumption and the influence in children's nutritional profile. Acta Ped Port. 2013; 44(6):301-5.

13. Ferreira AP, Morais PP, Oliveira RJ, Ferreira CB, França NM. Overweight and obesity prevalence in schoolchildren from Taguatinga-DF. Rev Inst Ciênc Saúde. 2008; 26(2):161-6.
-1414. Oliveira AMA, Cerqueira EMM, Oliveira AC. Prevalence of overweight and childhood obesity in Feira de Santana-BA: Family detection x clinical diagnosis. J Pediatr. 2003; 79(4):325-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0021-75572003000400010
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0021-75572003...
.

Based on the supposition that the prevalences of underweight, overweight, and obesity can be affected by sociodemographic and behavioral factors, the purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence of malnutrition, overweight, and obesity, and the associated factors in a representative sample of schoolchildren aged 7 to 10 years from public and private schools of Cascavel (PR), Brazil. The initial hypotheses of this study were that children from public schools should have a higher prevalence of malnutrition and that children form private schools should have higher prevalences of overweight and obesity, regardless of gender.

METHODS

The municipality of Cascavel is in the western region of the state of Paraná, ranking sixth in the state with respect to demographics. The estimated population is 309,259 inhabitants1515. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Cidades; 2014. [acesso 2016 maio 19]. Disponível em: http://www.cidades.ibge.gov.br/xtras/perfil.php?lang=&codmun=410480
http://www.cidades.ibge.gov.br/xtras/per...
. Cascavel has a Municipal Human Development Index of 0.692, ranking fifteenth in the state. The local population descends mostly from Italian, German, and Polish immigrants. The number of first graders to fourth graders aged seven to ten years old, respectively, is estimated to be 21,763 according to the municipal School Census, of which 19,030 are enrolled in public schools and 2,733, in private schools. The municipality was divided into five quadrants for selecting the study schools: North, South, East, West, and Downtown. An urban public school was then randomly selected from each quadrant (n=5), and five private schools were sampled by convenience.

The sample size was determined as suggested by the literature1616. Luiz RR, Magnanini MMF. O tamanho da amostra em investigações epidemiológicas. In: Medronho RA, Bloch KV, Luiz RR, Werneck GL, organizadores. Epidemiologia. São Paulo: Atheneu; 2009:415-27., using a confidence level of 1.96 (95% Confidence Interval [95%CI]), an error of 3%, a prevalence of 50% (unknown outcome), and a design effect of 1.5. Thus, the minimum sample size estimated for this study was 1,526 children. To compensate for students who might refuse to participate in the study, an extra 20% was added, so the sample consisted of 1,831 students.

All children aged 7 to 10 years enrolled in the selected schools in 2004 were eligible for the study. The inclusion criteria were: 1) self-reported good health (not taking any medication frequently or not being treated for some disease) and 2) provided an informed consent form signed by the parents or guardians. The exclusion criteria were: 1) voluntary refusal to participate in the study and 2) absent from school on the data collection day. Hence, the total sample consisted of 2,180 students (Table 1), of which 1,693 (887 boys and 806 girls) and 487 (226 boys and 261 girls) were from public and private schools, respectively. This study is part of the project "Crescimento e aptidão física relacionada à saúde em escolares do município de Cascavel, PR" (Growth and physical aptitude related to health in schoolchildren from the municipality of Cascavel, PR). After being informed about the objective of the present study and the respective procedures, all parents or guardians signed an informed consent form. This study complied with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná (State University of Western Paraná) (Opinion 126/2004-CEP/CCBS).

Table 1.
Distribution of the sample by age, gender, and type of school.

Demographic data (gender, age, and type of school) and anthropometric measurements (body mass and height) were collected from all participants. Body mass was measured by a digital scale (Filizola?, São Paulo, SP, Brazil), with accuracy of 0.1 kg and capacity of 150 kg, and height was measured by the compact wall-mounted stadiometer SECA Corporation, (SECA 220, model 206, Hamburg Germany) with accuracy of 0.1 cm and length of 2.20 meters1717. Gordon CC, Chumlea WC, Roche AF. Stature, recumbent length, and weight. In: Lohman TG, Roche AF, Martorell R, editors. Anthropometric standardization reference manual. Champaign: Human Kinetics; 1988. pp. 3-8.. Body Mass Index (BMI) was given by dividing the body mass in kilograms (kg) by the square of the height in meters (m).

The nutritional status of the children was classified according to BMI Z-score as follows1818. World Health Organization. Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group. WHO Child Growth Standards. Length/height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-length, weight-for-height and body mass index-for-age: Methods and development. Geneva: WHO; 2006..

  1. (a)

    Underweight (Z-score <-2);

  2. (b)

    Normal weight (-2< Z-score <+1);

  3. (c)

    Overweight (+1< Z-score <+2);

  4. (d)

    Obesity (Z-score >+2).

Descriptive procedures were used initially to represent the schoolchildren from public and private schools. The independent samples t-test identified the differences between the groups. Overweight and obesity prevalences were established according to the study variables (sex, age, and type of school). Since the dependent variable (nutritional status) consisted of four categories (normal weight, malnutrition, overweight, and obesity), multinomial logistic regression was used for estimating the association between nutritional status and the independent variables (gender, age, and type of school). The normal weight category was defined as the reference group. The analyses were adjusted for all variables, regardless of p value. All analyses used a significance level of 5% (95%CI). The analyses were performed by the software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows, version 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

RESULTS

Table 2 shows the general characteristics of the sample. Students from private schools had statistically higher body mass, height, and body mass index than those from public schools (p<0.05).

Table 2.
General characteristics of schoolchildren from Cascavel (PR), Brazil, by age, gender, and type of school (private and public).

Figure 1 shows the BMI Z-scores of the entire sample.

Figure 1.
Body mass index Z-scores of male (A) and female (B) schoolchildren from private and public schools.

The study prevalences for malnutrition, overweight, and obesity were 6.1%, 9.8%, and 11.1%, respectively (Table 3). Girls (11.6%), children aged 7 to 8 years (7.5% and 7.8%, respectively), and children from public schools (6.2%) had higher prevalences of malnutrition. Overweight was more prevalent in boys (11.2%), children aged 8 years (12.0%), and children from private schools (11.9%). Obesity was more prevalent in girls (14.8%), children aged 10 years (14.1%), and children form private schools (17.5%).

Table 3.
Nutritional status of schoolchildren from Cascavel (PR), Brazil, by age, gender, and type of school.

Table 4 shows the odds ratios for malnutrition, overweight, and obesity. Malnutrition was associated with gender, indicating that girls were 15.9 times more likely to be malnourished than boys. Overweight was associated with age, indicating that 10-year-olds were 1.53 times more likely to be overweight than seven-year-olds. Additionally, children from private schools were 1.63 and 2.88 times more likely to be overweight and obese, respectively, than their public school peers.

Table 4.
Association between nutritional status and sociodemographic factors in schoolchildren from Cascavel (PR), Brazil, by gender, age, and type of school.

DISCUSSION

The main study findings were: (a) the prevalences of malnutrition, overweight, and obesity were 6.1%, 9.8%, and 11.1%, respectively; (b) females were more likely to be malnourished than males; (c) 10-year-olds and students from private schools were more likely to be overweight than 7-year-olds and students from public schools; and (d) 10-year-olds and students from private schools were more likely to be obese than 7-year-olds and students from public schools.

Although childhood malnutrition decreased in Brazil in the last years11. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Pesquisa de orçamentos familiares, 2008-2009: antropometria e estado nutricional de crianças, adolescentes e adultos no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010., the present result indicates a prevalence of malnutrition of 6.1% in the municipality of Cascavel (PR), so apparently it continues to be an important public health problem. Cases of malnutrition seem to recur in the state1919. Rosaneli CF, Baena CP, Auler F, Nakashima ATA, Netto-Oliveira ER, Oliveira AB, et al. Elevated blood pressure and obesity in childhood: A cross-sectional evaluation of 4,609 schoolchildren. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2014; 103(3):238-44. http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/abc.20140104
http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/abc.20140104...
,2020. Salomons E, Rech CR, Loch MR. Nutritional status of six to ten-year-old schoolchildren in the municipal education system of Arapoti, Paraná, Brazil. Rev Bras Cineantropom Desempenho Hum. 2007; 9(3):244-9., as shown by a study from the municipality of Maringa with 4,609 students aged 6 to 11 years1919. Rosaneli CF, Baena CP, Auler F, Nakashima ATA, Netto-Oliveira ER, Oliveira AB, et al. Elevated blood pressure and obesity in childhood: A cross-sectional evaluation of 4,609 schoolchildren. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2014; 103(3):238-44. http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/abc.20140104
http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/abc.20140104...
, which reported a prevalence of malnutrition of 8.0%, higher than the study prevalence and the Brazilian mean (4.1%)11. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Pesquisa de orçamentos familiares, 2008-2009: antropometria e estado nutricional de crianças, adolescentes e adultos no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.. In addition a study from Arapoti (PR)2020. Salomons E, Rech CR, Loch MR. Nutritional status of six to ten-year-old schoolchildren in the municipal education system of Arapoti, Paraná, Brazil. Rev Bras Cineantropom Desempenho Hum. 2007; 9(3):244-9. with 1,647 children aged 6 to 10 years found a prevalence of malnutrition (22.7%) approximately five times higher than the Brazilian mean, which reinforces the concern with this outcome in the interior of Paraná, especially because of the problems caused by malnutrition on childhood development, such as delayed growth and development, neuromotor and intellectual involvement, and low immune function2121. Galiano LP, Abril FM, Ernert A, Bau AM. The double burden of malnutrition and its risk factors in school children in Tunja. Arch Latinoam Nutr. 2012; 62(2):119-26..

These findings show that malnutrition has not been eliminated in Brazil as this outcome still occurs frequently in children. Malnutrition has many causes, mainly quality of basic sanitation and household socioeconomic status11. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Pesquisa de orçamentos familiares, 2008-2009: antropometria e estado nutricional de crianças, adolescentes e adultos no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.. In this study, malnutrition was associated with sex: girls were 16 times more likely to be malnourished. This result is consistent with studies with children from other countries, such as Italy88. Lazzeri G, Rossi S, Pammolli A, Pilato V, Pozzi T, Giacchi MV. Underweight and overweight among children and adolescents in Tuscany (Italy). Prevalence and short-term trends. J Prev Med Hyg. 2008; 49(1):13-21. and Iran2222. Saeidlou SN, Babei F, Ayeromlou P. Malnutrition, overweight, and obesity among urban and rural children in north of west Azerbijan, Iran. J Obes. 2014; 2014:1-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/541213
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/541213...
. Although other factors related to malnutrition were not investigated, one cannot discard the possible influence of maternal behavior on the nutritional status of their children2323. Molina MCB, De Faria CP, Montero P, Cade NV. Correspondence between children's nutritional status and mothers' perceptions: A population-based study. Cad Saúde Pública. 2009; 25(10):2285-90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-3 11X2009001000018
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-3 11X200...
, since they tend to perceive excess weight in their daughters negatively, probably because of the image attributed by society to the female shape2424. Boa-Sorte N, Neri LA, Leite MEQ, Brito SM, Meirelles AR, Luduvice FBS, et al. Maternal perceptions and self-perception of the nutritional status of children and adolescents from private schools. J Pediatr. 2007; 83(4):349-56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0021-75572007000500011
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0021-75572007...
. On the other hand, from the maternal viewpoint, male children should have a vigorous body, with great dimensions2525. Mendonça MRT, Silva MAM, Rivera IR, Moura AA. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents from the city of Maceió (AL). Rev Assoc Med Bras. 2010; 56(2):192-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0104-42302010000200018
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0104-42302010...
.

In our study, overweight and obesity prevalence rates were 9.8% and 11.1%, respectively. These prevalence rates are lower than the national prevalences for overweight (33.5%) and obesity (14.3%) in children aged 5 to 9 years11. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Pesquisa de orçamentos familiares, 2008-2009: antropometria e estado nutricional de crianças, adolescentes e adultos no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010., and lower than the prevalence of overweight (17%), but not of obesity (7%), in children aged 6 to 10 years from the municipality of Maringa, located in the north of Paraná2626. Rosaneli CF, Auler F, Manfrinato CB, Rosaneli CF, Sganzerla C, Bonatto MG, et al. Evaluation of the prevalence and nutritional and social determinants of overweight in a population of schoolchildren: A cross-sectional analysis of 5,037 children. Rev Assoc Med Bras. 2012; 58(4):472-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0104-42302012000400019
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0104-42302012...
. Moreover, the study prevalence rate of obesity was lower than the 14.1% found by a recent meta-analysis of Brazilian children and adolescents44. Aiello AM, Melo LM, Souza Nunes M, Soares da Silva A, Nunes A. Prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents in Brazil: A meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies. Curr Pediatr Rev. 2015; 11(1):36-42.. These differences may be related to behavioral determinants, such as time spent on computer games and boys' easy access to unhealthy foods, since girls are more selective about healthy foods22. Leal VS, Lira PIC, Menezes RCE, Oliveira JS, Costa EC, Andrade SLLS. Malnutrition and excess weight in children and adolescents: A review of Brazilian studies. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2012; 30(3):415-22. http://dx. doi.org/10.1590/S0103-05822012000300017
http://dx. doi.org/10.1590/S0103-0582201...
,66. Xie X, Wu H, Lee T, Wang CM, Zhou X, Lu Y, et al. Gender differences in home environments related to childhood obesity in Nanchang, China. Child Obes. 2014; 10(5):416-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/chi.2013.0164
http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/chi.2013.0164...
,77. Chung EK, Romney MC. Social determinants of childhood obesity: Beyond individual choices. Curr Pediatr Rev. 2012; 8(3):237-52.. However, the present study did not target these determinants for analysis.

Although the prevalence of excess weight (overweight and obesity) is a typical characteristics of middle-income countries88. Lazzeri G, Rossi S, Pammolli A, Pilato V, Pozzi T, Giacchi MV. Underweight and overweight among children and adolescents in Tuscany (Italy). Prevalence and short-term trends. J Prev Med Hyg. 2008; 49(1):13-21.,2121. Galiano LP, Abril FM, Ernert A, Bau AM. The double burden of malnutrition and its risk factors in school children in Tunja. Arch Latinoam Nutr. 2012; 62(2):119-26., this scenario may be partly justified by the Brazilian food profile, which is high in animal fat and commercially processed foods, factors apparently associated with higher socioeconomic status22. Leal VS, Lira PIC, Menezes RCE, Oliveira JS, Costa EC, Andrade SLLS. Malnutrition and excess weight in children and adolescents: A review of Brazilian studies. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2012; 30(3):415-22. http://dx. doi.org/10.1590/S0103-05822012000300017
http://dx. doi.org/10.1590/S0103-0582201...
,1111. Miranda JMQ, Palmeira MV, Polito LFT, Brandão MRF, Bocalini DS, Figueira Junior AJ, et al. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in childhood in educational institutions: public vs private. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2015; 21(2):104-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1517-869220152102143660
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1517-869220152...
,1212. Porto ACV, Pires BAB, Coelho SC. Fast food frequency of consumption and the influence in children's nutritional profile. Acta Ped Port. 2013; 44(6):301-5.,2121. Galiano LP, Abril FM, Ernert A, Bau AM. The double burden of malnutrition and its risk factors in school children in Tunja. Arch Latinoam Nutr. 2012; 62(2):119-26.,2727. Costa MAP, Vasconcelos AGG, Fonseca MJM. Prevalence of obesity, overweight and abdominal obesity and its association with physical activity in a federal University. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2014; 17(2):421-36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1809-4503201400020011ENG
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1809-450320140...
. Such factors contribute not only to the accumulation of body fat but also to the development of numerous disorders, and chronic and degenerative diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and cardiopathy55. Sukhonthachit P, Aekplakorn W, Hudthagosol C, Sirikulchayanonta C. The Association between obesity and blood pressure in Thai public school children. BMC Public Health. 2014; 14(1):729-36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-729
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-7...
. Even though food intake and level of physical activity have not been controlled for in the study sample, there is plenty of evidence in the literature that an inappropriate diet is specifically associated with better socioeconomic status, being one of the causes of weight gain22. Leal VS, Lira PIC, Menezes RCE, Oliveira JS, Costa EC, Andrade SLLS. Malnutrition and excess weight in children and adolescents: A review of Brazilian studies. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2012; 30(3):415-22. http://dx. doi.org/10.1590/S0103-05822012000300017
http://dx. doi.org/10.1590/S0103-0582201...
.

Our study found a higher prevalence of obesity in girls, which is in disagreement with a higher nationwide prevalence of obesity in males (~16%)11. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Pesquisa de orçamentos familiares, 2008-2009: antropometria e estado nutricional de crianças, adolescentes e adultos no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.,44. Aiello AM, Melo LM, Souza Nunes M, Soares da Silva A, Nunes A. Prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents in Brazil: A meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies. Curr Pediatr Rev. 2015; 11(1):36-42.. Nonetheless, other municipalities in the state of Paraná, such as Apucarana (PR)2828. Guedes DP, Paula IG, Guedes JERP, Stanganell LCR. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents: Estimative according to gender, age, and socioeconomic status. Rev Bras Educ Fís Esporte. 2006; 20(3):151-63. and Arapoti (PR)2121. Galiano LP, Abril FM, Ernert A, Bau AM. The double burden of malnutrition and its risk factors in school children in Tunja. Arch Latinoam Nutr. 2012; 62(2):119-26., found similar prevalences of obesity.

Another important aspect found by the present study was the association between overweight and age, as 10-year-olds were 1.53 times more likely to be overweight than 7-year-olds. This finding corroborates other Brazilian studies that found a higher prevalence of overweight (35.6%) in 9-year-olds11. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Pesquisa de orçamentos familiares, 2008-2009: antropometria e estado nutricional de crianças, adolescentes e adultos no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.. However, there is no literature consensus on any specific age group as predictor of overweight and/or obesity. This fact may be illustrated by the situation in Kenia, where the prevalence of obesity (31%) was greater in children aged 5 to 9 years1010. Mwaniki EW, Makokha AN. Nutrition status and associated factors among children in public primary schools in Dagoretti, Nairobi, Kenya. Afr Health Sci. 2013; 13(1):39-46. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v13i1.6
http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v13i1.6...
. On the other hand, the highest prevalence of obesity in Thailand (20.9%) was found in children with a mean age of 10.3 years55. Sukhonthachit P, Aekplakorn W, Hudthagosol C, Sirikulchayanonta C. The Association between obesity and blood pressure in Thai public school children. BMC Public Health. 2014; 14(1):729-36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-729
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-7...
. Similarly, in Florianopólis (SC), Brazil, the highest prevalence of obesity (11.2%) was found in adolescents aged 10 to 17 years2929. Pelegrini A, Silva DAS, Petroski EL, Glaner MF. Nutritional status and associated factors in schoolchildren living in rural and urban areas. Rev Nutr. 2010; 23(5):839-46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1415-52732010000500014
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1415-52732010...
.

Salomons et al.2020. Salomons E, Rech CR, Loch MR. Nutritional status of six to ten-year-old schoolchildren in the municipal education system of Arapoti, Paraná, Brazil. Rev Bras Cineantropom Desempenho Hum. 2007; 9(3):244-9. found overweight and obesity prevalences of 19.5% and 22.2%, respectively, in children aged 6 to 10 years from Paraná, regardless of age. These data reinforce the hypothesis that the problem of childhood obesity in Brazil affects children of all age groups33. Chaves APB, Queiroz LFR, Abreu MAA, Medeiros KB. Overweight and child obesity: A public health problem in schoolchildren from North to South of the country. Enferm Brasil. 2011; 10(6):371-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40608-014-0030-4
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40608-014-003...
.

Regarding type of school, children from private schools were almost three times more likely to develop obesity than their public school peers, corroborating Miranda et al.1111. Miranda JMQ, Palmeira MV, Polito LFT, Brandão MRF, Bocalini DS, Figueira Junior AJ, et al. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in childhood in educational institutions: public vs private. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2015; 21(2):104-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1517-869220152102143660
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1517-869220152...
, who found higher prevalences of overweight (22.6%) and obesity (33.4%) in children aged 8 to 10 years from private schools. These differences were also found in other Brazilian municipalities33. Chaves APB, Queiroz LFR, Abreu MAA, Medeiros KB. Overweight and child obesity: A public health problem in schoolchildren from North to South of the country. Enferm Brasil. 2011; 10(6):371-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40608-014-0030-4
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40608-014-003...
,1313. Ferreira AP, Morais PP, Oliveira RJ, Ferreira CB, França NM. Overweight and obesity prevalence in schoolchildren from Taguatinga-DF. Rev Inst Ciênc Saúde. 2008; 26(2):161-6.. Yet, a study from Rio de Janeiro (RJ) did not find different nutritional status in children aged 5 to 10 years from public and private schools1212. Porto ACV, Pires BAB, Coelho SC. Fast food frequency of consumption and the influence in children's nutritional profile. Acta Ped Port. 2013; 44(6):301-5.. This outcome may be related to a set of variables associated with socioeconomic level, so children from private schools are more likely to develop sedentary behavior and buy food at the school snack bar1212. Porto ACV, Pires BAB, Coelho SC. Fast food frequency of consumption and the influence in children's nutritional profile. Acta Ped Port. 2013; 44(6):301-5.

13. Ferreira AP, Morais PP, Oliveira RJ, Ferreira CB, França NM. Overweight and obesity prevalence in schoolchildren from Taguatinga-DF. Rev Inst Ciênc Saúde. 2008; 26(2):161-6.
-1414. Oliveira AMA, Cerqueira EMM, Oliveira AC. Prevalence of overweight and childhood obesity in Feira de Santana-BA: Family detection x clinical diagnosis. J Pediatr. 2003; 79(4):325-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0021-75572003000400010
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0021-75572003...
.

This fact reinforces the need of adopting healthy food habits, especially during childhood, given the obesity-related risks, which may increase later in life2626. Rosaneli CF, Auler F, Manfrinato CB, Rosaneli CF, Sganzerla C, Bonatto MG, et al. Evaluation of the prevalence and nutritional and social determinants of overweight in a population of schoolchildren: A cross-sectional analysis of 5,037 children. Rev Assoc Med Bras. 2012; 58(4):472-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0104-42302012000400019
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0104-42302012...
. In this sense, schools can play an essential role in health promotion, encouraging the adoption of healthy habits, autonomy, and biopsychosocial potentialities3030. Zanirati VF, Lopes ACS, Dos Santos LC. Contribution of extended school hours to the nutritional and physical activity profile of schoolchildren. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2014; 35(1):38-45..

Until now most Brazilian studies on children's nutritional status have nothing but confirmed the literature reports of the growing obesity rates. Nevertheless, the present study emphasized the high prevalence of malnutrition in children from Cascavel, PR. Hence, the present results may encourage the establishment of public policies that aim to fight malnutrition, especially in this municipality, and of preventive measures that reduce overweight and obesity by adopting strategies that increase the level of physical activity, improve the healthiness of foods sold in school snack bars, and reduce sedentary behavior by practicing educational activities.

The present study has some limitations that cannot be ignored. The absence of information about sociocultural factors, food habits, sexual maturation (especially in children aged 9 to 10 years), habitual level of physical activity, and sedentary behavior may have important implications on children's nutritional status. What is more, the sample composition did not respect the proportion of public-to-private school students, since this proportion was 0.14 in the population and 0.29 in the sample. Therefore, it is possible that the study sample size may explain some of the differences between private and public schools. Nonetheless, the present study was concerned with analyzing the behavior of both boys and girls, from public and private schools. Additionally, the inclusion of schools located in different regions and the high number of study children enabled the production of data more representative of the municipality of Cascavel (PR), Brazil.

CONCLUSION

This study found prevalence rates of malnutrition, overweight, and obesity of 6.1%, 9.8%, and 11.1%, respectively, in schools in the municipality of Cascavel (PR), Brazil. Moreover, the greatest difference between students from public and private schools regarded the prevalence of obesity (public=9.2% vs. private=17.5%). On the other hand, girls were more likely to be malnourished, and 10-year-olds were more likely to be overweight than 7-year-olds. Finally, private school children were 1.63 and 2.88 times more likely to develop overweight and obesity, respectively.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico for the grants of research productivity and the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Amazonas for the master's grant. Additionally, we would like to especially thank all participants who contributed voluntarily to participate in this study, the regional teaching core of the municipality of Cascavel (PR), Brazil, and the public and private schools that allowed and enabled data collection in their facilities.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Oct 2016

History

  • Received
    30 Nov 2015
  • Reviewed
    30 May 2016
  • Accepted
    22 June 2016
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