A STUDY OF THE NUTRITIONAL STATE OF SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE TOWN OF FRANCA, SP: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PROBLEM

Abstract

SUMMARY: Among nutritional problems during infancy, obesity is relevant concerning to health state. Objective: evaluate the nutritional profile of children who were 6 and 7 years old in public and private schools in Franca, São Paulo. Methodology: We separated schools according to the group of students that were attending them, in caring, mixed and private schools. Our sample were composed by 171 children that were interviewed, weighed and had their height measured. Results: 44 students (25,6%) presented at least one nutritional risk, and 29 (16,9%) with obesity risk, and 8 (27,5%) of these attended caring or mixed school. Conclusion: children with obesity risk and those considered “normal” for weigh do not have a healthy nourishment and live a sedentary life. School canteens are not well supervised. In this first approximation of this theme we verified that in Franca we can detect children with risk for obesity. KEYWORDS: School Health; Obesity; Nutritional Assessment.