Abstract

PLAZA ALMEIDA, Josefa et al. Prevalence of obesity in school children. Rev Clin Med Fam [online]. 2008, vol.2, n.3, pp.106-110. ISSN 2386-8201.

Objectives. To determine the prevalence of obesity in children from 6 to 8 years old. To determine if school dinners and the holiday period significantly affect obesity in children. Design. Longitudinal, observational study. Setting. A state school in an urban area in Basic Health Area number 1 in Albacete. Participants. 102 children in the first and second year of primary school. Main measurements. The anthropometric measurements of weight, height and body mass index (BMI) of the subjects were taken during May 2007. In September these measurements were taken again and the abdominal perimeter was also measured in subjects who were obese. The percentiles were calculated using the Fundación Orbegozo charts for weight, height, BMI and abdominal perimeter according to age and gender. Results. The prevalence of obesity in the first evaluation was 23.5% and the prevalence of being overwight was 33.3%. In the second evaluation these values increased to 28.1% and 36.4%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the BMI index before and after the summer holidays, the BMI being higher after the summer holidays (18,3 vs 18,7 Kg/m²; p = 0,005). Conclusions. We found a high prevalence of obesity in our school children. Obesity was not related to school dinners. However, after the summer holidays there was a significantly increase in BMI.

Keywords : Obesity; Childhood.

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