Obesity and Sedentary Lifestyle as Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases in Children and Teenagers from Public Schools in Maringá, PR - Brazil

• Autor(a) principal: Silva, Joice Elaine Ferreira da
• Data de Publicação: 2009
• Outros Autores: Giorgetti, Kamila Suzan, Colosio, Renata Cappellazzo
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Saúde e Pesquisa (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.unicesumar.edu.br/index.php/saudpesq/article/view/868
• topic: Doenças Cardiovasculares; Obesidade; Sedentarismo; Cardiovascular Diseases; Obesity; Sedentary Lifestyle.

It is estimated that cardiovascular diseases in Brazil are responsible for approximately 20% of deaths. Smoking, high blood pressure, dyslipidemias and diabetes mellitus besides obesity and physical inactivity are among the risk factors that increase the probability to develop such diseases. This study aimed at verifying cardiovascular diseases risk factors in children and teenagers from public schools in Maringá, PR - Brazil, mainly focusing overweight and physical activity through blood pressure evaluation, body composition and physical aptitude. 52% of the evaluated children were boys and 48%, girls. Concerning physical activity, 49% of students affirmed they practice some kind of physical activity and most of them were boys. Concerning body mass index, 67% presented normal results, 12% were overweight and 8% were obese. Blood pressure presented normal values in 85% of the evaluated children. Flexibility, jump and speed tests as well as waist-hip ratio when related to body mass index proved not to have dependence among variables, while blood pressure and the abdominal test presented dependence. Cooper running test values were below expected. Based on the results from this research, we conclude that, though in small scale, there are predisposing factors to the development of cardiovascular diseases among the studied children and teenagers. Therefore, the necessity of programs aiming at preventing these risk factors is evident. People should be involved from childhood so that future consequences might be avoided.