Nutritional status of schoolchildren according to school geographical localization in the city of Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in students of public schools from Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 11,290 children aged seven to ten from public schools in the city of Sorocaba. Underweight, overweight and obesity were defined as, respectively, 85th and >95th body mass index percentiles for sex and age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth chart (CDC, 2000). The prevalence of nutritional alterations was assessed according to the geographical localization. RESULTS: Rates for underweight, overweight and obesity were respectively: Central area 3.4, 17.2 and 15.1%; Southern area, 4.2, 15.4 and 11.2%; Eastern area, 3.2, 14.7 and 12.7%; Northeast, 4.3, 11.9 and 10.7%; North, 5.8, 12 and 9.1%; Northwest 7.5, 11 and 9.1%; and Western regions 6, 11 and 9.2%. The differences between areas were significant (p85 e >95 do índice de massa corpórea por idade para sexo e idade propostos pelos Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2000). Comparou-se a prevalência de alterações nutricionais de acordo com a localização da escola. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de baixo peso, sobrepeso e obesidade nas crianças avaliadas, segundo a região geográfica de Sorocaba foi, respectivamente: Centro 3,4, 17,2 e 15,1%; Sul 4,2, 15,4 e 11,2%; Leste 3,2, 14,7 e 12,7%; Nordeste 4,3, 11,9 e 10,7%; Norte 5,8, 12 e 9,1%; Noroeste 7,5, 11 e 9,1%; Oeste 6,0, 11 e 9,2%. Os meninos apresentaram 5,3, 12,1 e 11,9% e as meninas 5,9, 12,3 e 8,2% de baixo peso, sobrepeso e obesidade, respectivamente. Houve diferença significativa na prevalência de alterações nutricionais entre as regiões da cidade (p