Nutritional Status of Children Aged 5 to 9 Years by Regional Health of the State of Goiás

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years, the Brazilian population has shown a significant increase in overweight individuals and a reduction in the prevalence of malnutrition. The Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (SISVAN) allows the monitoring of anthropometric data and food consumption markers of users of Primary Care of the Unified Health System of all stages of life. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of thinness, excess weight and short stature in schoolchildren aged 5 to 9 years in the state of Goiás and regional health centers (RS). Methods: This is an ecological study, based on secondary data recorded in SISVAN in the last 5 years. Anthropometric assessment was performed using height-for-age and body mass index-for-age indicators. Results: There was a low prevalence of thinness (5.7%) and short stature (6.1%) and a high prevalence of overweight (34.8%) among the children evaluated, being higher in RS Entorno Norte in the first two parameters and in the RS Rio Vermelho in the last parameter. Regarding the evolution of prevalence in the last five years, an increase in excess weight was observed. Conclusion: The growing increase in overweight in schoolchildren aged 5 to 9 years was highlighted, indicating the importance of monitoring nutritional status data, as well as attention to the development of actions aimed at reversing the scenario found.