Padrões de fatores de risco e proteção para ganho excessivo de peso entre adolescentes brasileiros: uma análise de cluster

Abstract

In recent decades, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has risen at alarming rates and currently affects not only adults but also children and adolescents. It is known that a small number of behavioral factors - related to inadequate dietary intake and insufficient physical activity - are responsible for a significant portion of this scenario. Although many of these factors were individually explored, current evidence suggests its coexistence as behavior patterns related to excessive weight gain. Identifying these patterns in the Brazilian population may contribute to identifying population groups most vulnerable as well as for creating effective public policies to reverse the current scenario. Objective: Analyzing behavior patterns formed by risk and protective factors for weight excessive gain and their association with sociodemographic characteristics among students of the 9th grade of elementary school in Brazil. Methods: Data from the National Survey of School Health (PeNSE) 2012, with a final sample of 109.104 students from 9th grade of elementary school, were used. In order to identify factors coexistence groups (related to the consumption and eating habits, physical activity and sedentary behavior), it was performed cluster analysis by the non-hierarchical k-means method. Logistic regressions were used to contextualize each identified pattern (using sociodemographic characteristics of the students). Results: In the total population set, and in the stratified analysis by sex, two clusters were identified. The cluster 1, which is characterized predominantly by low frequency of both risk factors and protective factors for excessive weight gain, and the cluster 2, which is characterized by the high frequency of these factors. I.e. no cluster essentially healthy or unhealthy, both are mixed. In general, it is observed that those students aged 14-15 years, black / brown color, from more developed regions (Southeast, South and Midwest) and have mothers with higher education (complete elementary school or more years of study), they are more likely to belong to the cluster 2. And the fact that studying in public / private school or live in capital / non-capital is not related to the determination of these clusters. Conclusion: Identifying these patterns allows expands the knowledge about the organization of obesogenic behavioral among Brazilian adolescents, thus contributing to the review and formulation of effective public policies in the fight against excessive weight gain in the population.