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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Childhood obesity presents a significant public health concern globally,
with implications for cardiovascular health and metabolic syndrome. In Portugal, approximately
31.6% of children are affected, highlighting the urgency for intervention strategies. This study
aimed to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Portuguese school-aged children, with
a focus on sex and age differences. Methods: Anthropometric measurements were conducted on
1564 children aged 6–10 years, including weight, height, and skinfold thickness. Body Mass Index
(BMI) and the percentage of body fat were calculated using established methods. Results: The results
revealed significant differences in BMI (≤0.001) and body fat percentage (≤0.001) among different
BMI categories, with a notable prevalence of overweight and obesity, particularly among boys. A
total of 37% of the studied population is overweight or obese, among which 40.1% and 33.9% are
boys and girls, respectively. Conclusions: This study highlights statistically significant differences in
BMI and body fat percentage for both sexes in different BMI categories. A large proportion of the
population is overweight or obese, with a greater prevalence in boys. In short, childhood obesity has a
negative impact on body composition and is associated with significant differences in anthropometric
parameters, emphasizing the importance of preventative and intervention strategies to address this
health problem.
Description
Keywords
Childhood Cardiovascular health Body composition Research Subject Categories::INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AREAS::Sports
Citation
Valente, Nelson; Forte, Pedro; Teixeira, José E.; Afonso, Pedro; Ferreira, Sérgio; Marinho, Daniel A.; Mendes, Pedro Duarte; Ferraz, Ricardo; Branquinho, Luís (2024). Tracking the Prevalence of Obesity in Portuguese School-Aged Children: What Future to Expect?. Children. ISSN 2227-9067. 11:8, p. 1-17
Publisher
MDPI