Prevalence of overweight/obesity among portuguese preschoolers

Objectives: The present study aimed to report the prevalence of being overweight/obese in a sample of Portuguese preschoolers. Methods: A total of 625 children (males: 53.6%) aged 3 to 6 years old were included in the study. The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-offs were used to define overweight and obesity. Results: The overall prevalence of being overweight/obese was 33.1%. The prevalence of being overweight/obese was significantly (p<0.05) higher in girls (37.2%) than boys (29.6%). Conclusions: Despite the age of the participants in the study, the levels of overweight and obesity are alarming and call for appropriate interventions.