Nutritional status and cardiovascular risk in children and adolescents assisted by a Social Welfare Organization

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a chronic condition defined by the excessive accumulation of body fat, associated with a higher cardiovascular and metabolic risk (CVMR). OBJECTIVE: To assess the nutritional status and CVMR profile of children and adolescents served by a Social Assistance Organization (SAO) in São Paulo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Individuals aged between seven and thirteen years were examined. Measurements of weight, height, abdominal circumference (AC), and neck circumference (NC) were taken. Nutritional status was determined by the Body Mass Index (BMI) in relation to age and sex. CVMR was identified by the ratio of abdominal circumference to height (AC/H), adopting a cutoff point of 0.5, in addition to NC, with cutoff points established by sex and age. This study received approval from the Ethics and Research Committee of the São Camilo University Center (nº 5.361.156). Statistical analysis was conducted considering a significance level of p<0.05. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: 57 young individuals participated. Regarding nutritional status, 33.3% were identified as eutrophic, 24.6% as overweight, 33.3% as obese, and 7.0% as severely obese. A significant association was found between sex and nutritional status (p=0.028), with boys showing a higher prevalence of obesity and severe obesity. Regarding CVMR, an AC/H above 0.5 was observed in 45.6% and increased NC in 50.9% of the sample. Boys showed a higher prevalence of CVMR measured by AC/H and NC alteration, positively correlating with weight and the z-score of BMI for age. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of participants presented deviations in nutritional status, predominantly overweight and obesity. Furthermore, about half of the sample showed CVMR, compromising quality of life and shortening longevity.