0,48) quanto em 2016 (0,68 e 0,76), respectivamente. A circunferência da cintura apresentou correlação (r=0,5307) estatisticamente significante (p<0,0001) com a estatura que as crianças apresentaram em 2016. CONCLUSÕES -A frequência de crianças com EP se manteve estável nos dois anos. Crianças no terceiro ano de vida com EP têm um risco duas vezes maior de apresentar sobrepeso ou obesidade até os 5 anos de idade e maior estatura nessa idade se associa a alterações da composição corporal que podem resultar em maior IMC, maior circunferência da cintura, maior massa magra e um aumento proporcionalmente maior de massa gorda.DESCRITORESavaliação nutricional, antropometria, estudos de coorte, obesidade, pré-escolar, crescimento. 7 ABSTRACT LOPES, A.F. Evolution of the nutritional status of pre-school children. 2018. Thesis-Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 2018. Portuguese. INTRODUCTION -The high prevalence of overweight children is currently considered to be one of the major public health problems because it is a multifactorial condition of origin and due to its complex immediate implications in biopsychosocial health, both in childhood and in adult life. Monitoring of growth through anthropometry allows early detection of health problems and nutritional risk situations, such as overweight and obesity. In this sense, observing the evolution of the nutritional status of overweight children as well as identifying the new cases and the possible anthropometric indicators that relate to this condition can be useful tools for the health care of the population. OBJECTIVES -To analyze nutritional status and its evolution in children attending municipal pre-schools in the city of Taubaté, in two moments, with a two-year interval: 2014 and 2016. METHODS -An analytical, cohort observational study with a sample of preschool children in the city of Taubaté, interior of the State of São Paulo -Brazil. A reassessment of the nutritional status of the 351 children attending day-care centers was carried out in 2016. The frequency of overweight (OW -z score of body mass index> 1) was compared at both moments and the relationship between the nutritional status of the pre-schoolers and their previous nutritional status and height was analyzed, as well as the other anthropometric parameters collected: muscular area and fat area of the arm and waist circumference. RESULTS -Mean values of height z score (zH), weight (zW) and body mass index (zBMI) in 2014 were, respectively, -0.07; 0.37 and 0.58 and in 2016: 0.09; 0.43 and 0.57. The proportion of children with OW was 31.05% (2014) and 31.06% (2016). The relative risk of children with OW in 2014 being obese in 2016 was 1.96 (p: 0.0473). The correlation was positive (r: 0.2761, p <0.0001) between the zH difference and the zBMI difference in the two years. The zBMI in 2014 analyzed in tertile showed no correlation (p: 0.1309) with the gain in stature in the two years. Muscle area and fat area of the arm had a significant association with zBMI in 2014 (0.46 and 0....