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Is overweight a risk factor for wheezing in pre-school children? A study in 14 Brazilian communities

S R D M Saldiva1, M M Escuder, S I Venâncio

  • 1Instituto de Saúde, Coordenadoria de Ciência e Tecnologia e Insumos Estratégicos/Secretaria do Estado de São Paulo, Rua Santo Antônio 590, Bela Vista, CEP 01314-000, São Paulo, Brazil. smsaldiva@isaude.sp.gov.br

Public Health Nutrition
|March 27, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Overweight children under 5 years old are more likely to experience wheezing. This study found a significant association between excess weight and increased wheezing risk in Brazilian preschoolers.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Wheezing is a common respiratory symptom in preschool children.
  • The relationship between overweight and respiratory conditions like wheezing requires further investigation, particularly in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between overweight and wheezing in preschool children.
  • To assess the risk of wheezing in relation to excess weight in young children.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in 14 Brazilian communities between 2001 and 2002.
  • Data were collected from 3453 children under 5 years of age using structured questionnaires and physical measurements.
  • Unconditional logistic multivariate regression models were employed to analyze the association between wheezing and overweight.

Main Results:

  • Overweight children exhibited a higher frequency of wheezing compared to children with normal weight.
  • An odds ratio of 2.57 (95% CI: 1.51-4.37) indicated a significantly increased risk of wheezing in overweight children, even after adjusting for confounding variables.
  • The observed association remained robust across different model specifications.

Conclusions:

  • Excess body weight is significantly associated with an increased risk of wheezing in children under 5 years of age.
  • Findings highlight the importance of weight management in early childhood for respiratory health.
Abstract

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