Sobrepeso e obesidade em escolares: implicações e alternativas no contexto escolar

Abstract

In recent years, the combination of changes in dietary habits with the sedentary lifestyle has contributed significantly to the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity. Thus, there is a need to expand the process of nutritional assessment, aiming at educating young people about the lifestyle and adopt healthy eating and living right, necessary for proper growth and development in this age group. Thus, considering the above, this study aimed to gather information on the percentage of school children with overweight and obesity in primary school students who attend public discipline of Physical Education. A survey of data on body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), weight, height, waist circumference (PC), hip circumference, sex, age, socioeconomic status, self-image, body perception, eating habits and physical activity in children and adolescents in 6th, 7th and 8th grades, at the State Institute Romaguera Correa municipality of Uruguaiana / RS, with 296 students. From the results obtained, it was observed that the students have high levels of BMI and WHR. In particular, analyzing the prevalence in the 3 series studied, there was a higher percentage of body mass index above 25, where 21% of the students have these ratios and 12% have a BMI above 30, stressing that there was no statistical difference between sexes in relation to BMI and hip. However, in all other variables observed this difference (p <0.05). It was also observed that poor dietary habits and lifestyle of students are directly linked to these values. In the correlation between BMI and WHR with body awareness and self-image of students, students who responded being overweight, the average BMI and WHR confirm this hypothesis, and according to their views on losing weight, it was shown that adolescents are aware of your body. Therefore, this may be a starting point for the proposed change in standards of living habits and physical activity. Then, from the implementation of this research, we verified the importance of including studies on overweight and obesity early in schools, to detect possible health problems as early as possible and suggest actions that can help promote the well being of children and youth.