<b>Prevalence of overweight, obesity and hypertension in adolescents attending an art school</b>. DOI: 10.5007/1980-0037.2011v13n4p272

Abstract

A cross-sectional analytical study involving the population of adolescent students attending the Nigelia Soria Public School and Art Institute (n=213, 24% boys, 76% girls) in the two career paths (non-physical: visual arts and music, and physical artistic activities: dance) was conducted. Anthropometric variables, blood pressure (systolic, SBP, and diastolic, DBP), and heart rate were measured. A semi-structured questionnaire collecting personal data regarding non-communicable chronic diseases, trauma, menstrual cycle, non-school physical activity, inactivity, and sleep duration was administered. The participation rate was 70%. In boys (age 15.6±1.8 years), the prevalence rates of low weight, eutrophy, overweight, and obesity were 0%, 87.5%, 12.5% and 0%, respectively. In girls (age 15.5±1.7 years), these rates were 1.1%, 86%, 8.6%, and 4.3%. Body mass index was significantly associated with waist circumference and brachial circumference in both genders (p<0.001). In the overweight/obesity group, two students were diagnosed with isolated systolic hypertension (SBP 90th percentile). A eutrophic male student with SBP/DBP 90th percentile was confirmed as borderline by 24-h blood pressure measurement. In the group of overweight/obese girls, two students were identified with isolated SBP 90th percentile, one with isolated DBP 90th percentile, and two with SBP/DBP 90th percentile. The nutritional status of students is satisfactory, with a high proportion of young healthy adolescents of both genders. However, the implementation of this protocol permitted to identify adolescents with high blood pressure, overweight, and obesity. These factors may pose a health risk considering the school activity of these students.

Keywords

• Anthropometry
• Nutritional status
• Obesity
• Overweight
• Physical activity.