[Assessment of overweight from prepuberty to adolescence]

To examine whether prepubertal overweight continues into adolescence, and to evaluate if this progression over time differs by sex.

The sample population consisted of 179 healthy boys and 206 girls on whom anthropometric data were assessed at 6-8 years and 13-16 years of age. The assessment of overweight was performed according to the cut-offs points of the International Obesity Task Force.

From baseline to follow-up, the percentage of participants who were overweight increased from 23% to 29.2% in males, and decreased from 32.6% to 21.4% in females. Baseline weight was significantly correlated (P<.01) with follow-up weight in both males (r=0.78) and females (r=0.68). Weight and BMI at 6-to-8 years- old explained percentages of variation of weight and BMI at 13-to-16 years-old, higher in boys than in girls (64.1% and 44.1%, respectively, for weight; 53.5% and 39.9%, respectively, for BMI). A total of 75% of the participants remained in the same weight category.

The prevalence of overweight in adolescence decreased in girls. The weight and BMI at prepubertal age account for a significant percentage of the variation in weight and BMI in adolescence. This percentage is higher in males than in females.