Abstract

Author(s): Jara Porras, Jonathan1; Yánez Moretta, Patricio2,3; García Guerra, Geovanna4; Urquizo Chango, Carlos1

Introduction: The body structure of adolescents is an important factor for their growth and this varies according to sex, age and type of feeding they carry daily.

Objective: To evaluate the anthropometric profile and the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescents from 13 to 17 years old in the central Andean zone of Ecuador.

Methods: Standardized anthropometric techniques (height, weight, Body Mass Index) were applied to 432 adolescents (13-17 years of age) in three Educational Units of the central Andean region of Ecuador during December 2017. It was also determined, through surveys, the number of daily food intakes that adolescents make. The data were addressed by comparative tables, as well as by a Principal Component Analysis for each age group.

Results: From 432 individuals studied, 238 were men and 194 women; with a medium body complexion; their weights ranged from 30 to 111 kg; the heights between 1.39 and 1.91 m, the Body Mass Indexes between 14.23 and 48.68 kg / m2, the Waist Circumference surpassed the value of 100cm in 7 individuals. This allowed to determine that there is a prevalence of adolescents with a general normal weight in each age group analyzed, in addition to a percentage of adolescents with a tendency to overweight and obesity especially in men of 13 and 14 years of age, as well as in women of 13 years of age.

Conclusions: Overweight and obesity are conditions that affect a significant percentage of the adolescents studied, which mostly show food intakes of more than 3 daily, sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy food intake. Adolescents who consume two to three meals a day stay within the normal limits of the Body Mass Index for age.