Factors associated with excess weight in Brazilian children under five years of age

The scope of the study was to identify factors associated with excess weight in Brazilian children less than five years of age. Data from a cross-sectional home-based study entitled the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) of 2006 were used. The diagnosis of excess weight was performed using the weight-for-height greater than 2 z scores above the median anthropometric standard recommended by the World Health Organization in 2006. The population under study consisted of 4,388 children. The prevalence of excess weight in children was described according to socio-economic, demographic, anthropometric, and behavioral variables. Crude and adjusted analyses were carried out to assess statistical significance stratified by gender using Poisson regression. The prevalence of excess weight was 6.6%. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, maternal body mass index and birth weight were associated with excess weight. Furthermore, being overweight was associated with exclusive breastfeeding for boys and with the socio-economic level and marital status of the mother for girls. The need to implement public policies that act on the major determinants of excess weight since childhood is emphasized.