Objective: To evaluate the agreement between the body mass index international standard and body fat for the diagnosis of overweight and obesity in schoolchildren.Methods: 528 schoolchildren between 6 and 10 years of age, of both sexes, had their weight and height measured. They were then classified as normal, underweight, overweight or obese using the body fat index for age. Body fat was estimated based on the sum of triceps and subscapular, triceps and calf skinfold measurements and waist and hip circumference.Results: Overweight and obesity were found in 21.2% of the girls and 18.8% of the boys. The average percentage of body fat in the normal children (17.7%) was statistically different from that of overweight (27%) and obese (29.4%) children (p < 0.02). The average waist and hip circumference also differed significantly between normal boys and girls (56.9 cm and 67.7 cm) and overweight children (65.9 cm and 77 cm) (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference between groups in terms of average waist to hip ratio. The percentage of body fat , waist and hip circumference were significantly correlated with body mass index (p < 0.01).Conclusion: Body mass index for age was an adequate indicator of overweight and obesity in group studied, with a good agreement with body fat.J Pediatr (Rio J). 2004;80(2):129-34: BMI, skinfold measurements, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist to hip ratio.

Body mass index for age was an adequate indicator of overweight and obesity in group studied, with a good agreement with body fat.

Objective: To evaluate the agreement between the body mass index international standard and body fat for the diagnosis of overweight and obesity in schoolchildren.Methods: 528 schoolchildren between 6 and 10 years of age, of both sexes, had their weight and height measured. They were then classified as normal, underweight, overweight or obese using the body fat index for age. Body fat was estimated based on the sum of triceps and subscapular, triceps and calf skinfold measurements and waist and hip circumference.Results: Overweight and obesity were found in 21.2% of the girls and 18.8% of the boys. The average percentage of body fat in the normal children (17.7%) was statistically different from that of overweight (27%) and obese (29.4%) children (p < 0.02). The average waist and hip circumference also differed significantly between normal boys and girls (56.9 cm and 67.7 cm) and overweight children (65.9 cm and 77 cm) (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference between groups in terms of average waist to hip ratio. The percentage of body fat , waist and hip circumference were significantly correlated with body mass index (p < 0.01).Conclusion: Body mass index for age was an adequate indicator of overweight and obesity in group studied, with a good agreement with body fat.J Pediatr (Rio J). 2004;80(2):129-34: BMI, skinfold measurements, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist to hip ratio. ResumoObjetivo: Avaliar a concordância entre o índice de massa corporal segundo padrão internacional e indicadores de adiposidade no diagnós-tico de sobrepeso e obesidade em escolares.Métodos: Avaliação de peso e estatura de 528 escolares, entre 6 e 10 anos, de ambos os sexos, seguida da classificação das crianças em eutróficas, com baixo peso, sobrepeso ou obesidade segundo índice de massa corporal por idade. A adiposidade foi estimada a partir da somatória das medidas das dobras cutâneas tricipital e subescapular, tricipital e da panturrilha medial e pelas circunferências da cintura e quadril.Resultados: A prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade foi de 21,2% nas meninas e 18,8% nos meninos. A porcentagem de gordura corporal média nas crianças normais (17,7%) foi significativamente diferente da observada nas crianças com sobrepeso (27,0%) e obesidade (29,4%) (p < 0,02). As circunferências médias da cintura e quadril dos meninos e meninas eutróficos (56,9 cm e 67,7 cm) diferiu significativamente daqueles com sobrepeso (65,9 cm e 77 cm) (p < 0,01). Não houve diferença na razão cintura-quadril entre os grupos. A porcentagem de gordura corporal, a circunferência da cintura e a circunferência do quadril correlacionaram-se significativamente com o índice de massa corporal (p < 0,01).Conclusão: O uso do índice de massa corporal por idade, baseado em padrão internacional, mostrou-se adequado para o diagnóstico de sobrepeso e obesidade na faixa etária estudada, apresentando boa concordância com a adiposidade. ARTIGO ORIGINAL IntroduçãoA obesidade vem aumentando de forma alarmante, sendo considerada uma verdadeira epide...