Purpose

The study aims to analyze the risk factors

associated to overweight and obesity in
students in their first year of college at a
Public university in the Center-West region
on Brazil in an attempt to identify strategies
for the prevention and control of this
nutritional disturbance.

hypothesis
The prevalence of obesity and overweight
among children and adolescents is
increasing at different speeds.
Evaluating demographics and risk factors
will associate to the increase in weight in
adolescents.

introduction
Obesity jeopardizes the quality of life and
increases the risk of precocious diseases
Worldwide 10% of children and adolescence
range from 5-17 yo
The occurrence of obesity is increasing at
0.5% over that past years in Brazil
Around 1 in 7 Brazilians are classified as
obese
In Brazil, being thin is associated with poverty

Methods & Requirements

UFG (University of Gois)
Study ran by trained nutrition students
Cross study with 1,538 freshmen students of
age younger than 20 years (age 16-19)
Couldnt be pregnant, maternally licensed,
physically malformed
Of the 1,538 students:
6 excluded (2 pregnant, 2 maternally
licensed, 2 injured)
67 Students did not participate (37 dropped
out, 15 decline, 15 were not found in school
during times of visit)

Factors measured
Electronic scaled were used (0.1kg accuracy): light
clothes and shoeless
Height*
BMI*
2 hrs. watching TV
Gender
Age
Schooling
Number of siblings
Parents education level & civil status
Eating habits
Alcohol consumption
Smoking

Methods
121 adolescents presented BMI 85 percentile
They were the reference pattern adopted in the crosssection study
Total 380 cases: 106 cases, 233 control
Food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate
food consumption
IPAQ (international physical activity questionnaire) was used
to measure physical activity
Data collected by 40 minute interview through phone
call with the adolescent, parents had to be present

Table 1 Results
Presents the distribution of risk factors for case and control studies
Similar behavior in relation to:
-
Socio-economic aspects
-
Family food composition
-
Birth weight
-
Maternal breastfeeding
-
Ingested food type
-
Alcohol consumption
-
Smoking
Being MALE was characterized as a risk factor for overweight and obesity
No difference in PA (case & control)
Eating habits: skipping breakfast, less than 3 meals a day, no fruits, added
sugars is associated with over weight and obesity
Being on a weight loss diet during the time of the study correlated with
overweight an obesity

Table 1
Results

Table 2 Results
Shows the results of the multivariate analysis
performed through non-conditional logistics
regression
Eating habits included:
the number of meals per day and the frequency

The variable gender and mothers BMI

Lifestyle Controls
Low consumption of fruit correlated with high

prevalence of overweight and obesity

Table 2 Results

Discussion
Short time frame of the study led to bias answers
The prevalence was associated with wealth (men
4.5x)
Girls had a 2.5x prevalence, esthetic standards
forth slender human beings
Obesity among adolescents correlated with
mothers excess weight
relationshio is greater with child and mother
than father and child- when examined separate

Discussion
Consuming fruits is correlated with a
decrease in overweight and obesity
reduce cancer risks, CVD, diabetes
Breakfasting was associated with lower
levels of cholesterol and low weight

Other
Other Brazilian studies using similar
populations and methodology
-
-
-

Northeast 8.45%
Southeast 11.53%
South 16.4%

Studies from Canada, Italy, and Spain

showed similar results to associated excess
weight and men

USA and Saudi Arabia showed inverse

Conclusion
The prevalence of obesity and overweight
is increasing at different speeds and
patterns
The study analyzed the risk factors
associated with the increase of weight in
freshmen
This age group is inherently a risky one,
with a non-normal weight gain
Obesity in childhood and adolescent is a
strong predictor for obesity in adult life

Final thoughts
Educational Interventions for Students
Similar to the study done in Botswana
Under-nutrition
Factors are close to same, more
personal

Questions?