Endocrine Abstracts

Between 1970–1975 brazilian children with overweight were 8% and 11%, and obesity 2% and 3% for girls and boys, respectively. In 2008 overweight was 32% and 34%, and obesity 12% and 17% for girls and boys, respectively. In this study we have evaluated the nutritional profile of public school students in our town. A cross sectional observational study was developed in 2017. Mean height (3 determinations) was ascertained in the morning by trained physical educators in 1115 randomized students aged 9–10 years old. BMI (kg/m²) obtained from 461 boys and 497 girls were stratified by the 2007 WHO BMI Z scores. Students received two Qualitative Nutritional Diaries. Teachers were trained to fill in the diaries by a video prepared by us. Essentially, explained that every time children ate they should trace a small dash in front of the name of the respective food in the roll of the diary. Each signed dash meant that they consumed the food in that moment, no matter the quantity. Nutritional diaries from 623 (1246 diaries) children were computed together (sum of dashes traced of each food in each diary). Overweight was 24.8% and 23.2%, obesity 15.9% and 21.7%, and severe obesity 2.6% and 6.5% in girls and boys, respectively. Low body weight was 1.2% in girls and 0.9% in boys. Expected reportedly low input of data into diaries was evidenced by water consumption which had 1132 dashes traced (dt), or 0.91 dt/diary (dt/d). Fresh fruit juice 0.2 dt/d. Sugar sweetened beverages 0.5 dt/d. Diet soda 0.1 dt/d. Coffee 0.2 dt/d. Milk/yogurt/cheese consumption 0.7dt/d. Main brazilian carbohydrates sources (80–110 kcal/100 g) 1.0 dt/d. Roasted/cooked/fried meat 0.6 dt/d. Processed meat 0.3 dt/d. Eggs 0.1 dt/d. Salads/vegetables 0.6 dt/d. Fruits 0.3 dt/d. Butter/cream/cheese/mayonnaise 0.4 dt/d. Highly processed industrialized foods (220–580 kcal/100 g) 1.7 dt/d. Snacks and hamburgers 0.4dt/d. Brazilian homemade whole fruit desserts (90–250 kcal/100 g) 0.2 dt/d.

Conclusions: Prevalence of overweight and obese children in our town was similar to national data of 9 years earlier, suggesting that the group of vulnerable children to excessive weight gain has been attained completely. Severe cases, however, have increased sharply, indicating that this group might be under continued and/or stronger obesogenic factors. High consumption of highly caloric & processed industrialized food and consumption loss of less caloric cultural cooking was evidenced. Physical activity has been evaluated separately. These are the initial steps towards an obesity preventive task force in our school children.