The objective of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of overweight and abdominal obesity in schoolchildren according to anthropometric parameters and sexual maturation. A cross-sectional study was performed in 1,405 children of both genders aged 10-14 years, living in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil, in 2007. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were assessed. Sexual maturation was self-assessed. Early sexual maturation was defined as the chronological age below the median age for the referred stage. Prevalence of overweight was 20.4% (95%CI: 18.3-22.6), and abdominal obesity was 14.9% (95%CI: 13.1-16.9) and 12.6% (95%CI: 10.9-14.4) according to WC and WHtR, respectively. There was a strong positive correlation among BMI, WC, and WHtR (rho ≅ 0.8; p < 0.001). In both genders, the prevalence of overweight and abdominal obesity was higher in the final stages of sexual maturation (p < 0.05). The high prevalence of overweight requires urgent preventive measures and control. Therefore, the inclusion of sexual maturation for the assessment of nutritional status is recommended.
Abdominal Obesity; Sexual Maturation; Anthropometry; Students
