Abstract
Objective: To analyze the prevalence and factors associated with excess weight in adolescents from private schools in Porto Velho, RO, Brazil. Method: Cross-sectional population-based study with 1096 students. Questionnaire was used to collect information about the demographics characteristics, socioeconomic aspects, screen time, lifestyle and type of transport. Body mass index was classified as recommended by the World Health Organization, 2007. The chi-square test verified the association between excess weight and the independent variables. Results: The prevalence of overweight was 26.6% (20.6% overweight and obese 6.0%). Male gender presented a higher prevalence of overweight (30.6%), in contrast to females (23.0%). The variables that were significantly associated (p <0.05) with excess weight were: sex, physical activity, computer, transportation and smoking. In eating habits, excess weight showed a statistically significant association (p <0.05) with soda, candy, fast food, pasta; and vegetables and fruits. For adolescents watching or used 4 hours per day or more of television or computer was highlighted the magnitude of frequency of 60.0% and 56.4%, respectively, with excess body weight. Likewise 44.9% adolescents with sedentary habit in physical activity were overweight. On the other hand, was not identified statistically significant differences (p> 0.05) between excess weight and socioeconomic variables, education level, number of residents in the home and number of siblings. Conclusion: Adolescents of private schools showed high prevalence of excess weight. The variables more vulnerable to excess weight were sex, physical activity, television, computer, transportation, soda, candy, fast food.