Identification of obesity in children and teenagers.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a condition that increases the risk of developing several health problems, resulting in high health care costs worldwide. Therefore, it is important to investigate several avenues for the control of this condition. This study aimed to identify a dermatoglyphical condition that distinguishes obesity individuals from those of appropriate weight. METHODS: The sample comprised 2172 children and teenagers between the ages of 10 and 19 years, female and male, from public and private schools of the municipality of Joaçaba, Santa Catarina, Brazil. RESULTS: In a comparison of qualitative variables, i.e., patterns, significant differences were observed between groups, including a higher frequency of ulnar loops (LU) on the index and middle fingers (MET2 and MET3) in the appropriate weight group. In the obesity group, a greater frequency of whorls (W) on fingers MET2 and MET3 was observed in males. In females, there were statistically significant correlations between the presence of radial loops (LR) on MET3 in the appropriate weight group and arches (A) in the obesity group. CONCLUSIONS: The study uncovered dermatoglyphical marks characteristic of obesity individuals.

[The relationship between the human development index and nutritional variables in Brazilian children]. / Relação do Indice de Desenvolvimento Humano e as Variáveis Nutricionais em Crianças do Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at showing the relationship of the Human Development Index (HDI) in different areas of Brazil to body composition variable patterns, thereby indicating these variables' nutritional status and the suitability of their use. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional, comparative study. The sample consisted of male and female state school students aged 8 to 10 years old from 3 regions of Brazil . They were randomised according to region: south, n=(262 male, 251 female), northeast, n=(45 male, 35 female) and north, n=(96 male, 38 female). The protocols used were mass, stature, total skin-folding and body mass index (BMI). The HDI was taken from the United Nations' Development Programme. One-way ANOVA (parametric data) and the Kurskal-Wallis test (non-parametric data) were used for comparative, descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. A p<0.05 significance level was adopted (i.e. 95 % probability of affirmatives and/or negatives denoted during the investigation). RESULTS: The results revealed a p<0.0001 significant difference regarding the variables being investigated. CONCLUSIONS: Using anthropometry as an auxiliary tool for ascertaining infants' body composition can help in the early treatment and prevention of nutritional disorders such as malnutrition and obesity. It can form part of public policy linked to infant assistance, using efficient and simple means for preventing public health problems.

Relação do Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano e as Varißveis Nutricionais em Crianças do Brasil / The relationship between the human development index and nutritional variables in Brazilian children

Objetivo: O objetivo do presente estudo é demonstrar a relação do Indice de desenvolvimento humano (IDH) de diferentes regiões brasileiras no comportamento das variáveis de composicão corporal-indicadores do estado nutricional, assim como, a adequação da utilização destas variáveis. Materiais e Método: Estudo descritivo, de corte transversal de topología comparativa. A amostra foi composta por alunos de escolas públicas, de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 8 e 10 anos, de 3 regiões brasileiras, escolhidas de maneira aleatória, sendo: Sul n= 262 masculino e n=251 feminino; Nordeste n=45 masculino y n=35 feminino; Norte n=96 masculino y n=38 feminino. Os protocolos utilizados foram de estatura, massa, somatória de dobras cutáneas e IMC. O IDH foi retirado do Programa das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvimento.A estatística utilizada foi a descritiva e inferencial, através do método comparativo Anova one-way para os dados paramétricos e o teste Kurskal-Wallis para os dados não paramétricos, sendo adotado um nível de significância de p <0,05, ou seja, 95 por cento de probabilidade para as afirmativas e/ou negativas, denotadas durante as investigações. Resultados: Foi demostrada a existência de uma diferencia significativa p<0.0001 nas variáveis estudadas. Conclusiones: A utilização de antropometria como uma ferramenta auxiliar para conhecer a composição corporal das crianças podem ajudar na prevenção ou tratamento precoce dos distúrbios alimentares, como desnutrição e obesidade. Ela pode ser parte das intervenções das políticas públicas ligadas à assistência infantil, na utilização de formas simples e eficiente para evitar problemas de saúde pública.

Objective: This study was aimed at showing the relationship of the Human Development Index (HDI) in different areas of Brazil to body composition variable patterns, thereby indicating these variables' nutritional status and the suitability of their use. Material and Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional, comparative study. The sample consisted of male and female state school students aged 8 to 10 years old from 3 regions of Brazil . They were randomised according to region: south, n=(262 male, 251 female), northeast, n=(45 male, 35 female) and north, n=(96 male, 38 female). The protocols used were mass, stature, total skin-folding and body mass index (BMI). The HDI was taken from the United Nations' Development Programme. One-way ANOVA (parametric data) and the Kurskal-Wallis test (non-parametric data) were used for comparative, descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. A p<0.05 significance level was adopted (i.e. 95 percent probability of affirmatives and/or negatives denoted during the investigation). Results The results revealed a p<0.0001 significant difference regarding the variables being investigated. Conclusions Using anthropometry as an auxiliary tool for ascertaining infants' body composition can help in the early treatment and prevention of nutritional disorders such as malnutrition and obesity. It can form part of public policy linked to infant assistance, using efficient and simple means for preventing public health problems.

Objetivo: El propósito del presente estudio es demostrar la relación del Índice de Desarrollo Humano (IDH) de diferentes regiones brasileras en el comportamiento de las variables de composición corporal-indicadoras del estado nutricional, así como, la adecuación de la utilización de estas variables. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo, de corte transversal de topología comparativa. La muestra estuvo compuesta por alumnos de escuelas públicas, de ambos sexos, con edad entre 8 y 10 años, de 3 regiones brasileñas, escogidos de manera aleatoria, que son: Sur n=262 masculino y n=251 femenino; Nordeste n=45 masculino y n=35 femenino; Norte n=96 masculino y n=38 femenino. Los protocolos utilizados fueron de estatura; masa; sumatoria de pliegues cutáneos e IMC. El IDH fue retirado del Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo. La estadística utilizada fue descriptiva y de inferencia, la comparación a través del Anova one-way para los datos paramétricos y Kurskal-Wallis test para los datos no paramétricos, de significancia p<0,05, esto es, 95 por ciento de probabilidad para las afirmativas y/o negativas, encontradas en la investigación. Resultados: Fue demostrada la existencia de una diferencia significativa p<0.0001 en las variables estudiadas. Conclusiones: La utilización de la antropometría como herramienta coadyuvante para conocer la composición corporal de los infantes, puede auxiliar para la prevención o tratamiento precoz de casos con disturbios nutricionales, como desnutrición y obesidad. Puede ser parte de las intervenciones de las políticas públicas unidas a la asistencia infantil, a la utilización de medios simples y eficaces para prevenir problemas de salud pública.