Nutritional status of children and adolescents: case-study in Southeastern, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: the nutritional status in cases of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents is considered a global health reference for future trends and for enabling strategic planning. The main reason for this is the increase in the consumption of low-nutrient and high-calorie food. Aims: the present study aimed at verifying the nutritional status of children and adolescents, as well as demonstrating nutritional trends. Methods: some schools in the city of São Gonçalo do Sapucaí, southeastern Brazil, were visited. The student’s weight, height and age were assessed in a total of 646 students, from which 198 were preschoolers, 369 schoolchildren and 79 adolescents. Results: nutritional assessment uses diagnostic methods to assess factors of nutritional disorders. Tested by a chi-square, the evaluation shows that overweight, which is considered one of the most alarming public health problems in Brazil, is the current problem. Conclusion: it was concluded that there was a low rate of child malnutrition and an actual overweight rate. The relation among health, sports and leisure and education departments is very relevant to create nutritional intervention programs which are associated with the practice of physical activity linked to nutritional education aiming at reducing overweight rates and childhood obesity.