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Overweight and obesity in school-age children and teenagers of a urban area of Riobamba city, Ecuador

Abstract:

Introduction: To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school students and adolescents of a urban area of the city of Riobamba. Material and Methods: 3680 students between 5 and 19 years, 1581 school students and 2099 adolescents enrolled in 65 units of basic education and high school were studied. The variables studied were: type of educational establishment, sex, age, weight and height. For the diagnosis of nutritional status, the WHO-2007 reference standards of body mass index for were used. School children and adolescents whose standard deviation was found <-2 were considered thin, between -2 and +1 normal weight, >+1 to +2 overweight and >+2 as obesity. Data were analyzed by the computer programs: Anthro Plus v1.0.4 and SPSS v20. Results: Being overweight affects 24.1% of school/adolescents; overweight, 17.8% and 6.3% obese. Excess weight is statistically higher (p<0.0001) in school (27.7%) than in adolescents (21.5%). Similarly, excess weight is statistically higher (p<0.0001) in children men (31.0%) than in women (24,4%) at school age. And it is statistically higher (p<0.0001) in adolescent females (23.3%) than in adolescent males (19.8%). Being overweight in school/adolescents affects: private schools (27.7%), treasury missionary establishments (25.3%) and fiscal establishments (22.9%). Similarly, excess weight is greater among schoolchildren in private schools (28.1%) than in fiscal establishments, 27.7% (non statistically p = 0.9984). And it is statistically greater (p <0.0001) in adolescents of private establishments (27.6%) than in fiscal establishments (18.4%). Conclusions: The prevalence of weight excess (overweight/obesity) in school students and young urban area of the city of Riobamba is high (24.1%), and is higher in school age (27.7%) than in adolescents (21,5%). An intervention is needed to prevent and treat this serious public health trend.