Resumo

LIBERONA Z, Yéssica et al. MACRONUTRIENTS INTAKE AND OVERWEIGHT PREVALENCE IN 5TH AND 6TH GRADE OF DIFERENTS SOCIOEOCONOMIC LEVELS IN THE METROPOLITAN REGION. Rev. chil. nutr. [online]. 2008, vol.35, n.3, pp. 190-199. ISSN 0717-7518.  doi: 10.4067/S0717-75182008000300004.

Obesity in childhood has become an important publie health problem in Chile. Objetive: to study macronutrient intake and nutritional status in school-age children attending5th andóth grade inprimary schoolsfrom different socioeconomic status located in 6 counties in Santiago, Chile. Methods: A total of 1,732 children between 9 and 12 years oldjrom both sexes were studied. Anthropometric evaluation included weight, height, and tricipital and subescapular thickness. Macronutrient intake was determined using a 24-hours recall survey. Socioeconomic status was estimated using the ESOMAR survey. Results: In this sample overweight and obesity prevalence reached 40%. Prevalence was higher in boys and in the lower socio-economic groups. A higher consumption ofproteins andfat wasfound in the wealthier groups, while a higher intake of carbohydrates was present in the poorer ones. Comparison with the daily recommended allowancesfound that both males andfemales hada 75% ofadequacy of all ofmacronutrients with the exception offiber. Conclusión: The study revealeda highprevalence ofmalnutrition in both sexes with a better nutrition standard among children in higher socioeconomic status.

Palavras-chave : schoolchildren; macronutrient intake; overweight; obesity.