POSTURAL CONTROL AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN EUTROPHIC, OVERWEIGHT AND OBESE CHILDREN

Introduction: Childhood obesity has been growing in recent years and is probably due to changes in lifestyle, such as inactivity and inadequate food consumption. In the overweight population, postural control, which is a prerequisite for various postures and activities, can be modified. Objectives: To evaluate and compare the postural control and physical activity in eutrophic, overweight and obese children at the age of eight of the public school network of Londrina, PR. In addition, to verify the association between physical activity and nutritional classification. Methods: The sample consisted of 346 children divided into three groups: eutrophic (n=205), overweight (n=69), and obese (n=72) who answered the questionnaire of physical activity for children (PAQ-C). The assessment of postural control was performed on a force platform, preferably in a unipodal position. Results: The prevalence of overweight children was 40.7%, and the prevalence of sedentary ones was 82.9%, with a median of three hours daily in front of the TV. The children presented a COP area of 13.41 +/- 6.77 cm(2) in the unipodal position, the eutrophic group had COP area of 13.97 +/- 6.67 cm(2), the overweight group, 12.34 +/- 5.71 cm(2), and obese 13.59 +/- 7.94 cm(2) (p=0.785). Girls had better performance in postural control than boys (p=0.000). The AP frequency (Hz) and ML (cm/s) presented a statistically significant difference (p=0.033 and p=0.016, respectively). It was also found association between eutrophic and overweight children and physical activity (p=0.013; X-2=6.186; odds ratio = 0.308; p=0.020; X-2=5.38, odds ratio = 0.293, respectively). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of overweight and sedentary children. Overweight did not affect the COP area (cm(2)), but interfered AP frequency and ML velocity. Physical activity proved to be a protective factor in eutrophic and overweight children. Therefore, physical activity intervention programs should be included in schools since they can have a preventive role regarding obesity and sedentary lifestyle.