[Infantile and juvenile obesity: a medicosocial problem]

The authors studied a series of 536 schoolchildren aged from 11 to 16 years. Anthropometric measurements defined 60 cases as having a ponderal excess of 10% to 50% in comparison to height. This ponderal excess was 10% to 20% by 11 children, 20% to 30% in 26 cases, 30% to 50% by 16 children and more than 50% by another 7 children. All the cases were due to an excess of ingested calories. 50% of children had one or both parents with excess of weight. The exogenous form of childhood obesity seems to be an important medical and social problem in our country and impose the reinforcement of prophylaxis by dietary measures.