Brazilian children are becoming taller and more obese, according to a study published in March by the scientific journal The Lancet Regional Health – Americas. The survey analyzed the measurements of more than 5 million children and found an average growth of 1 cm in child height and more than 2% in the prevalence of obesity in both sexes.
The work, conducted by researchers from the Center for Data Integration and Knowledge for Health (Cidacs/Fiocruz Bahia), together with the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and University College London, an English higher education institution, analyzed data from children aged 3 to 10, born between 2001 and 2014.
These data were obtained from three administrative systems: the Single Registry for Social Programs of the Federal Government (CadÚnico), the Live Birth Information System (Sinasc) and the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (Sisvan).
This methodology, in itself, already demonstrates that administrative data can be a powerful tool for scientific production, according to researcher Carolina Vieira, who led the study.
How it was done
To carry out the analysis, the data was separated into two groups: children born between 2001 and 2007; and between 2008 and 2014. Thus, by comparing the trends of both groups, it was possible to reach some conclusions.
Regarding height, children of both sexes showed an increase of 1 cm in the average growth trajectory.
As for the body mass index (BMI), a measure that relates each individual’s weight and height, there was a subtle increase in both genders.
In boys, an increase of 0.06 kg per m² was observed and in girls, 0.04 kg per m². However, when analyzing excess weight in the age group from 5 to 10 years old, an increase in the prevalence of this factor was found in both sexes, especially boys.
For them, there was an increase of 3.2%, while for girls the increase was 2.7%.
For children aged 3 and 4, the scenario was milder. In boys, this growth was 0.9%, while in girls it was 0.8%.
Obesity
With specific regard to obesity in children aged 5 to 10 years, the prevalence of this factor increased by 2.7% in boys and 2.1% in girls.
In younger children, aged 3 and 4, there was also a reported increase, but less expressively. In boys, growth was 0.5% and in girls, 0.3%.
