Nutrición Hospitalaria (Dec 2012)
Análisis del estado nutricional en escolares; estudio por áreas geográficas de la provincia de Granada (España) Analysis of the nutritional state of school children in different districts of the province of Granada (Spain)
Abstract
Introducción: En España la prevalencia de obesidad muestra un patrón de distribución norte-sur. En la provincia de Granada se desconoce su distribución. Objetivos: Los objetos del presente trabajo son estudiar la prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en una población de escolares representativa de toda la provincia de Granada. Verificar diferencias significativas entre las comarcas de la provincia. Comprobar una correlación entre el estado nutricional de los alumnos y el de sus progenitores. Métodos: 977 escolares de entre 9 y 17 años de edad, pertenecientes a 13 centros educativos públicos de la provincia de Granada (España). Estudio analítico y multicéntrico, en el que se realizó una valoración del estado nutricional mediante antropometría. Además, mediante un cuestionario, se evaluó la existencia de antecedentes familiares de sobrepeso u obesidad. Resultados: Se encontró una elevada prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad entre la población estudiada. En chicas, la mayor prevalencia tanto de sobrepeso como de obesidad se situaba entre los 12 y los 14 años de edad. En los chicos, se observó un repunte en la prevalencia de sobrepeso a los 12 años. Respecto de la obesidad, sus tasas fueron considerablemente inferiores a las descritas entre las chicas. Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas para el peso (F = 4,154; p = 0,003), pero no para la estatura (F = 1,928; p = 0,105). En cambio, para la variable IMC se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas (F = 5,037; p Background: In Spain the prevalence of obesity shows a north-south distribution. In the province of Granada its distribution is unknown. Objectives: (1) To study the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a sample population of school children and adolescents from different districts in the province of Granada. (2) To verify whether there are significant differences, depending on the district where the students reside. (3) To find a possible correlation between the nutritional state of the students and that of their parents. Methods: The population sample was composed of 977 school children and adolescents from 9 to 17 years of age, attending 13 public elementary schools and high schools in the city and province of Granada (Spain). In this analytical and multicentric study, the nutritional state of the subjects was evaluated by means of anthropometric measurements. Furthermore, data were collected by means of questionnaire to discover whether the respondents had a family history of overweight or obesity. Results: We found a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among the studied population. In girls, the greater prevalence of both overweight and obesity ranged from 12 to 14 years of age. In boys, there was an increase in the prevalence of overweight at twelve years of age. Regarding obesity, their rates were significantly lower than those described among girls. There were statistically significant differences for weight (F = 4,154; p = 0,003) but not for height (F = 1,928; p =0,105). But for the variable BMI was statistically significant difference (F = 5.037; P < 0.001) between the studied geographical areas. The results showed that the nutritional state of students with a family history of obesity was significantly worse (p < 0.01). Discussion: A high prevalence of obesity was found in the sample, especially among the girls. There exists a geographical distribution pattern, possibly derived from the socioeconomic characteristics of each area in the province. The existence of a family history of obesity is an important factor that can determine whether the child will also become obese in the future.
