Body mass index percentiles in adolescents of the city of São Paulo, Brazil, and their comparison with international parameters

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the percentile distribution of body mass index (BMI) in school adolescents, by gender and age, comparing them with international parameters. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 8,020 adolescents aged 10-15 years from 43 schools in the city of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. BMI values of the study sample were distributed in percentiles and compared to international parameters (CDC, Must and cols. and Cole and cols.). RESULTS: Both male and female adolescents aged 10 to 14 years showed BMI cut-offs over the international parameters, especially in the P50-P85 percentile range. At the age of 15, the observed values were very similar to reference data; however, BMI values in the 95th percentile were much higher than international parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The study results show how important it is to use adequate BMI values for Brazilian adolescents aged 10-15 since international parameters may not reflect the actual nutritional status of this group.

Elevated neck circumference and associated factors in adolescents

“…In a previous study conducted with 8020 adolescents in the city of Sao Paulo, the cutoff values of the AC demonstrated for female and male high sensitivity and specificity. This shows how this measure is correlated with adiposity [ 9 ].…”

“…The sample was non – probabilistic, convenience, which evaluated 1774 adolescents, aged 10 to 17 years old, enrolled in last year’s primary and third year of high school. Sampling procedures, anthropometric measurements, and nutritional status assessments are published elsewhere [ 9 , 21 ].…”

“…The high prevalence of overweight in adolescents has shown a significant increase, which certainly culminate in adults more obese and severely obese [ 4 , 6 - 8 ]. A work with 10-15 years adolescents in Sao Paulo found 23% of overweight students in public schools, and 33 % in private schools, and these two types of institution obesity was present in 8.21% and 7.83% and 9.91% of girls and 17.84% boys, respectively [ 9 ].…”

Excesso de peso e fatores associados em adolescentes de uma capital brasileira

“…Other limitations were the lack of adequate cutoff points for the BMI assessment of the Brazilian adolescent population, as international parameters may not reflect the actual condition of nutritional status 42 , and the self-reported definition of the nutritional status of family members, as the distortion of body image has been increasing alarmingly in the studied age group 43 . Among the results found, the increasing prevalence of OW in adolescents and its association with gender, family obesity, SEC, and BP stand out.…”