Abstract

FERNANDEZ BUSTILLO, J.M.; PEREIRA GARCIA, P.; MENDEZ BUSTELO, M.J.  and  GRUPO COLABORATIVO OBESGAL. Overweight and obesity: what is our reality?, what reference do we use?: the OBESGAL study. Rev Pediatr Aten Primaria [online]. 2015, vol.17, n.68, pp.301-307. ISSN 1139-7632.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1139-76322015000500003.

Introduction: obesity in children is a challenge for public health. Therefore, we conducted a comparative study of the results obtained in the present moment in our health area, to assess the nutritional status of children 2-15 years old who presented in different primary care centers, studying the prevalence of overweight, obesity and morbid obesity in our region and comparing them with previous studies nationwide. Subjects and method: the study population is composed of a representative sample of 15 142 children, aged 2 to 15 years old. The medical records were reviewed and anthropometric data (weight, height and BMI) were collected from the visits of the Well Child Program (Program do Neno San) to obtain a final sample of 12 643 individuals [6433 boys (50.9%) and 6210 girls (49.1%)]. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was analyzed according to age and sex variables, establishing a cutoff corresponding to the p85 percentile (overweight) and p95 (obesity). To categorize the BMI, charts for age and sex of the longitudinal growth study Orbegozo Foundation, contained in the SERGAS medical record (Galician Health), were used. Prevalence estimates were accompanied by the respective 95% confidence intervals (CI). Chi square test was used to compare qualitative variables. The data were analyzed using the statistical package SPSS for Windows, version 12.0. We compared our results with those of previous studies: the enKid study (1988-2000), and Aladino study (2010-2011). Results: the prevalence of overweight (9.3%) and obesity (9.7%) in our study is lower, overall, than that obtained in other studies of national reference: enKid (12.4 / 13.9%), Aladino (26.2 / 18.3%), etc., although it is difficult to make comparisons because the criteria used to define overweight andobesity are not the same, we do not use the same charts as a reference or the same cutoff. Conclusions: the prevalence of overweight and obesity varies depending on the baseline study used, being in our case far from the "official" expected figure. It requires consensus and unified criteria (WHO, IOTF, Orbegozo, etc.) to establish the diagnosis of overweight or obesity using the BMI.

Keywords : Overweight; Obesity; Prevalence; Growth.

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