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Prevalence and Factors Associated With High Body Fat in Adolescents from a Region of Brazil

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence and factors associated with high body fat in adolescents. A cross-sectional study conducted with 601 students from both sexes aged 14–17 years who live in Midwestern state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Body adiposity was assessed by the sum of subscapular and triceps skinfolds. Sociodemographic variables such as lifestyle, aerobic fitness and nutritional status were assessed. For data analysis, Poisson regression multivariable was used. The prevalence of high body fat was 51.2% for girls and 31.2% for boys. Higher prevalences of high body fat were observed for girls aged 16–17 years (PR: 1.15, CI 95%: 1.07–1.24) and overweight (PR: 1.36, CI 95%: 1.27–1.44) and for boys with high socioeconomic level (PR: 1.21, CI 95%: 1.09–1.34), inadequate eating habits (PR: 1.11, CI 95%: 1.02–1.21), physically inactive (PR: 1.10, CI 95%: 1.02–1.19) and overweight (PR: 1.46, CI 95%: 1.35–1.57). The prevalence of high body fat was high and factors associated with this outcome are different for each sex; thus, interventions for prevention and control of obesity should be different for girls and boys.

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The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal University of Santa Catarina—Sports Centre, Centre for Cineantropometry and Human Performan—UFSC/CDS/NuCIDH, Campus Universitário—Trindade—Caixa Postal 476, CEP 88040-900, Florianópolis, Brazil

    Diego Augusto Santos Silva, Juliane Berria & Edio Luiz Petroski

  2. University of Western Santa Catarina, Acbs, Physical Education, Getulio Vargas 2125, Flor da Serra, CEP: 89600-000, Joacaba, SC, Brazil

    Leoberto Ricardo Grigollo

Authors
  1. Diego Augusto Santos Silva
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  2. Juliane Berria
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  3. Leoberto Ricardo Grigollo
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  4. Edio Luiz Petroski
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Correspondence to Diego Augusto Santos Silva.

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Silva, D.A.S., Berria, J., Grigollo, L.R. et al. Prevalence and Factors Associated With High Body Fat in Adolescents from a Region of Brazil. J Community Health 37, 791–798 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-011-9512-1

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