Abstract

DALLA COSTA, Márcia Cristina et al. The nutritional status of adolescents assisted by an adolescent health center in the Municipality of Cascavel, State of Parana, Brazil. Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde [online]. 2011, vol.20, n.3, pp.355-361. ISSN 1679-4974.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5123/S1679-49742011000300010.

OBJECTIVE: this study aims to verify the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescents assisted by an adolescent health center, and its association with age and gender. METHODOLOGY: this cross-sectional study was carried out with 383 adolescents (aged 10 to 19 years) assisted by a referral unit for adolescent medical care in the Municipality of Cascavel, State of Paraná, Brazil; age- and gender- adjusted body mass index (BMI) was calculated with the following cut-off points: BMI < 5th percentile (underweight); ≥ 5th percentile and < 85th percentile (adequate); ≥ 85th percentile and < 95th percentile (overweight); and ≥ 95th percentile (obese); the chi-square test was used to verify the association between variables. RESULTS: among the adolescents interviewed, 15.4% were overweight and 7.6% were obese, totaling 23.0% with excess weight; a statistically significant association between nutritional status and age was found, with a higher proportion of overweight/obesity amongyounger adolescents. CONCLUSION: the observed prevalence of overweight and obesity were high, confirming both the magnitude of the problem and the need for preventive action.

Keywords : adolescence; overweight; obesity.

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