Nutritional status of children and adolescents: case-study in Southeastern, Brazil / Estado nutricional de crianças e adolescentes: estudo de caso no sudeste brasileiro

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 Sao Goncalo do Sapucai, 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. Keywords: Overweight; Obesity; Anthropometry; Nutritional transition RESUMO Introducao: O estado nutricional em casos de sobrepeso e obesidade em criancas e adolescentes e considerado uma referencia global de saude para tendencias futuras e para possibilitar o planejamento estrategico. A principal razao para isso e o aumento no consumo de alimentos com baixo teor de nutrientes e alto teor calorico. Objetivos: O presente estudo teve como objetivo verificar o estado nutricional de criancas e adolescentes, bem como demonstrar tendencias nutricionais. Metodos: Algumas escolas foram visitadas na cidade de Sao Goncalo do Sapucai, Sudeste, Brasil. O peso, altura e idade foram avaliados em um total de 646 alunos, sendo 198 pre-escolares, 369 escolares e 79 adolescentes. Resultados: A avaliacao nutricional usa metodos diagnosticos para avaliar fatores de disturbios nutricionais. Testada pelo teste qui-quadrado, a avaliacao mostra que o excesso de peso, considerado um dos problemas de saude publica mais alarmantes no Brasil, e o problema atual. Conclusao: Concluiu-se que havia uma baixa taxa de desnutricao infantil e uma taxa real de excesso de peso. A relacao entre os departamentos de saude, esporte e lazer e educacao e muito relevante para criar programas de intervencao nutricional que estao associados a pratica de atividade fisica vinculada a educacao nutricional visando reduzir as taxas de sobrepeso e a obesidade infantil. Palavras-Chave: Sobrepeso; Obesidade; Antropometria; Transicao nutricional