Abstract
Objective: To classify the abdominal circumference (AC) of schoolchildren aged 10 to 16 enrolled in the public school system of the City of Montes Claros - MG. Methods: Epidemiological study with a descriptive cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of 627 students. The sample selection process was by probabilistic conglomerate. The AC assessment was measured using a non-extensible tape measure. The cutoff point was according to International Diabetes Federation (IDF). The variables were analyzed with the statistical program SPSS (Statistical Program for Social Sciences) version 20.0 for Windows. Results: A total of 627 adolescents - 379 females and 248 males - found a change in AC n 67 adolescents, considering a significant increase in percentile by age and sex. Conclusion: The values expressed here represent the possibility of an early intervention in the development of metabolic diseases, including cardiovascular and metabolic syndrome, avoiding greater damages in adult life.