Evaluation of the nutritional status in pre-school and school children, Madeira Island, Portugal
In order to evaluate the nutritional status of Câmara dos Lobos Municipality students, all pre-primary and primary public schools located in the municipality were contacted. The assessment of height and body weight, used to calculate body mass index as a method of diagnosing low weight, overweight,...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
ALIES - Associação Lusófona para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação e do Ensino das Ciências da Saúde
2019-06-01
|
| Series: | Journal Biomedical and Biopharmaceutical Research (BBR) |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.alies.pt/BBR%20Editions/Vol-16-1-2019/art1.pdf |
| Summary: | In order to evaluate the nutritional status of Câmara dos Lobos Municipality students, all pre-primary and primary public schools located in the municipality were contacted. The assessment of height and body weight, used to calculate body mass index as a method of diagnosing low weight, overweight, or obesity, was performed in 1405 students aged 3 to 9 years.
The cut-off points of the BMI adopted by the IOTF were used to calculate the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity. The prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity was 2.5%, 36.9% and 13.1%, respectively. In children between the ages of 3 and 5 the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) is 6.9-12.8% in boys and 6.9-9.8% in girls. Six-year-olds had a higher prevalence of overweight when compared to other children. Students from the schools of the Estreito community in Câmara de Lobos presented the highest prevalence of low weight (3.5%). Students from the community of Curral das Freiras presented a higher prevalence of overweight (42.0%), and the prevalence of obesity was 21.0%. In order to prevent childhood obesity the municipality of Câmara de Lobos might consider these results for appropriate action. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2182-2360 2182-2379 |