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Background: We examined the moderating influence of home location and school type across time on cardiometabolic risk and active school commuting over 5 years in a sample of children from southern Brazil. Methods: We recruited a sample of children ( n  = 154; baseline age = 9.6 ± 1.5 years old; 56.8% female) who were followed for 5 years from 2011/2012 to 2016/2017. We collected home location, school type, and school commute data using self-report methods and collected cardiometabolic risk measures to calculate a cardiometabolic composite risk score (cMetSyn). General and generalized linear mixed effects models were employed to examine the moderating influence of home location and school type across time on cardiometabolic risk and active school commuting. Results: We found a significant three-way home location × school type × time interaction on cMetSyn scores ( b  = 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.13-1.12, p  = 0.014), indicating that children who were living within rural areas and enrolled in state schools during 2016/2017 had higher cardiometabolic risk compared with children enrolled in municipal schools and living in urban areas at the end of the study. Additionally, we found that children living in rural areas had an 86% lower rate of active school commuting compared with students living in urban areas (rate ratio = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.07-0.32, p  < 0.001). Conclusions: The results suggest that Brazilian children enrolled in state schools and living in rural areas had higher cardiometabolic risk scores at the end of the study and that southern Brazilian children residing in rural areas had a much lower rate of actively commuting to school.

The aim of the present study was to verify whether the amount of sleep duration, screen time, and physical activity moderate the relationship between FTO rs9939609 polymorphism and waist circumference (WC) in children and adolescents. This is a cross-sectional study conducted with 1338 children and adolescents, aged between 6 and 17 years. Lifestyle habits were assessed through self-reported questionnaire. WC was measured on the narrowest part of the trunk between the last rib and the iliac crest. FTO rs9939609 polymorphism was genotyped by real time polymerase chain reaction. The PROCESS macro for the SPSS was used for moderation analyses, through multiple linear regression models. Results indicated significant interactions were found between sleep duration and screen time X FTO rs9939609, showing that these lifestyle behaviours are moderators in the relationship between a genetic predisposition for obesity and higher WC. For physical activity, there was no significant interaction. Therefore, sleeping more than 564 min a day (i.e. 9.4 h) and spending no more than 233 min in front of screen may counteract the genetic predisposition to obesity in children and adolescents. Highlights A healthy lifestyle may counteract the genetic predisposition to central obesity;Children and adolescents should sleep more than approximately 9 h (564 min) per day and spend less than approximately 4 h (233 min) per day in front of screens in order to counteract the genetic predisposition to central obesity conferred by the FTO gene variant.It is fundamental to promote actions for the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, including the importance of presenting adequate sleep habits and low screen time for a better cardiometabolic health and reduction of obesity.

Background: Cardiometabolic risk has been shown to be inversely associated with cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and positively associated with body mass index (BMI)., Objective: Our objective was to analyze the association of cardiometabolic risk factors with combined BMI and CRF in schoolchildren from a city in southern Brazil., Methods: Cross-sectional study with a sample of 1252 schoolchildren aged seven to 17 years. Total cholesterol (TC), HDL-c, LDL-c, triglycerides (TG), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were evaluated. CRF and BMI were grouped into one variable and the schoolchildren were classified as eutrophic/fit, eutrophic/unfit, overweight-obese/fit, and overweight-obese/unfit. Crude and adjusted analyzes were performed using Poisson Regression and an alpha of 0.05 was adopted., Results: Overweight-obese and fit schoolchildren showed a prevalence ratio (PR) of 1.50 (1.04 - 2.16) for altered TG, 3.05 (2.05 - 4.54) for elevated SBP, and 2.70 (1.87 - 3.88) for elevated DBP. Overweight-obese and unfit schoolchildren showed a PR for high TC of 1.24 (1.11 - 1.39) and 1.51(1.11 - 2.04) for low HDL levels. In addition, they had a risk of 2.07 (1.60 - 2.69) for altered TG, 3.36 (2.31 - 4.60) for elevated SBP and 2.42 (1.76 - 3.32) for altered DBP., Conclusion: BMI played a central role in the association with risk and CRF was shown to attenuate the association between risk factors and obesity. Overweight-obese children and adolescents had a higher cardiometabolic risk, but the effect size was larger among the unfit.

Objective: The goal of this study was to analyze whether the relationship between the rs9939609 polymorphism of the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) with nutritional status is moderated by the ponderal index (PI) at birth in children and adolescents., Methods: A cross-sectional study evaluated 382 schoolchildren aged 6-17 years. Anthropometric variables such as waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%) were used to assess nutritional status. Weight and height at birth were used for the PI calculation, which was divided into tertiles (lower, middle and upper). To compare the continuous variables between genotypes of the rs9939609 polymorphism, a recessive model (TT/AT vs. AA) and covariance analysis (ANCOVA) were used., Results: The AA genotype of the rs9939609 polymorphism was associated with higher WC in schoolchildren born with lower PI (β = 4.40; p = .048). However, for BF%, the genotype association was found in the upper PI tertile (β = 7.35; p = .040)., Conclusion: The relationship between WC and BF% with rs9939609 polymorphism (FTO) seems to be moderated by PI at birth. This is an important insight, since the data for intrauterine growth, genetic factors and the presence of obesity in children and adolescents are still contradictory., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) has been extensively reported in the literature related to nutritional status, but there has been limited description of the genetic contribution to obesity risk during childhood and adolescence, especially in Latin Americans. This study aims to associate the rs9939609 polymorphism, of the FTO gene, with changes in nutritional status in Brazilian schoolchildren followed for 3 years. A longitudinal study was conducted with 355 schoolchildren, aged 7-15 years in 2011/2012 and subsequently re-evaluated in 2014/2015. Nutritional (obesity) status was classified by identifying those exceeding recommended thresholds for waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), body mass index (BMI), and body fat percentage (BF%). The rs9939609 polymorphism was genotyped by a real-time polymerase chain reaction. Relative risk (RR with 95% confidence interval) of obesity status by FTO gene polymorphism was calculated by Poisson regression. The risk group was determined for genotypes with the allele A polymorphism, and regression models were adjusted for age, sex, height, ethnicity, and geographical location. Considering the longitudinal changes in status over the 3-year follow-up, the RR of developing a WC exceeding the threshold recommended (WC >75 th age and sex-standardized percentile), or remaining with this condition, was higher in children with AT/AA genotype. For WC, the RR was 1.66 (1.07; 2.58) in crude analysis and 1.17 (1.01; 1.35) following adjustment for age (years), gender, ethnicity, and geographical location. The comparative risk of abdominal obesity, assessed by WHtR (not recommended threshold ≥0.50), was 53% and 8%, respectively, higher in AT/AA compared to TT genotype.Conclusion: This is one of the first longitudinal investigations to show a significant association between the A allele of the rs9939609 polymorphism and individuals with higher than recommended WC and WHtR measures in Brazilian children and adolescents. What is known: • The FTO has an effect on increases in body mass index (BMI) among children and adolescents. • It established the association between FTO and overweight/obesity in Caucasians. What is new: • The presence of the risk allele of rs9939609 (FTO gene) polymorphism is associated with increased abdominal fat in Brazilian schoolchildren. • Was detected an association between FTO gene polymorphism (rs9939609) with WC in follow-up cohort and changes in WC and WHtR follow-up over 3 years, during childhood and adolescence growth., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Physical exercise reduces the biochemical markers of obesity, but the effects of multicomponent interventions on these markers should be explored. The present study aimed to elucidate how overweight/obese adolescents respond to a multicomponent program approach on body composition, physical fitness, and inflammatory markers, using a quasi-experimental study with 33 overweight/obesity adolescents (control group (CG) = 16; intervention group (IG) = 17). The intervention consisted of 24 weeks with physical exercises and nutritional and psychological guidance. Both groups were evaluated at the pre/post-intervention moments on body mass index (BMI); body fat (%Fat); waist circumference (WC); waist/hip ratio (WHR); waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF); abdominal strength, flexibility; leptin; interleukin 6; interleukin 10; and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Mixed-analysis of variance and generalized estimation equations were used for statistical analysis. There was an interaction effect between groups and time on %Fat ( p = 0.002), WC ( p = 0.023), WHR ( p < 0.001), WHtR ( p = 0.035), CRF ( p = 0.050), and leptin ( p = 0.026). Adolescents were classified as 82.4% responders for %Fat, 70.6% for WC, 88.2% for WHR, and 70.6% for CRF. Further, there was an association between changes in %Fat ( p = 0.033), WC ( p = 0.032), and WHR ( p = 0.033) between responders and non-responders with CRF in the IG. There was a positive effect on body composition, physical fitness, and leptin. In addition, reductions in body composition parameters were explained by CRF improvements.

Background: There is a lack of clarity as to which obesity parameters may be more important in the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF)., Aim: To verify the mediating role of different obesity parameters on the association between CRF and CMRF in normal weight and overweight/obese children and adolescents., Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 999 children and adolescents (534 boys) aged 7-14 years from the south of Brazil. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and percentage of body fat were assessed. Participants were classified as normal weight, overweight and obese according to BMI. CRF was evaluated by the 6-minute run/walk test. . A continuous CMRF score was calculated by summing the Z-scores of the following variables: systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides. Data analysis was performed using partial correlation and linear regression models., Results: BMI, WC, WHtR and percentage of body fat mediated the relationship between CRF and CMRF in overweight/obese boys and girls but not those of normal weight. Additionally, the percentage of the influence of each obesity parameter was 20% for BMI and WC, 16% for percentage of body fat and 18% for WHtR in girls. For boys, the mediation effect was 25% for BMI, 26% for WC, 28% for percentage of body fat and 25% for WHtR., Conclusion: Adiposity plays a central role in CMRF; therefore, maintaining an adequate weight status should be an important objective of health-promoting programmes in early age., Abbreviations : CMRF, cardiometabolic risk factors; CRF, cardiorespiratory fitness; BMI. body mass index; HDL-c, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, PROCESS PROESP-Br, Projeto Esporte Brasil; SPSS, Package for Social Sciences; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglycerides; WC, waist circumference; WHtR, waist-to-height ratio; %BF, percentage of body fat.

Obesity is an important risk factor associated with non-communicable cardiometabolic diseases. Previous studies have indicated that children and adolescents with a predisposed genetic risk for obesity could benefit from an active lifestyle, but there are no studies investigating whether physical fitness moderates the association of genetics and obesity. The aim of this study was to verify the moderating role of physical fitness in the relationship between genetic risk score (GRS) and body mass index (BMI) in children and adolescents. This cross-sectional study was carried out with 1471 children and adolescents, aged between 6 and 17 years from Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil. Weight and height were assessed to determine BMI. Physical fitness components (cardiorespiratory fitness [CRF], lower limb strength [LLS], upper limb strength, and abdominal strength) were evaluated. The GRS was based on previously associated obesity single-nucleotide polymorphism rs9939609 (FTO), rs6548238 (TMEM18), and rs16835198 (FNDC5). Moderation analyses were tested using linear regression models, and the interactions were represented by physical fitness components X GRS (categorical variable). All analyses were adjusted for skin color/ethnicity, sex, and sexual maturation. Significant interactions for CRF (P = 0.041), LLS (P = 0.041), and abdominal strength (P = 0.046) X 5 and 6 risk alleles with BMI were found only in adolescents. In addition, there was evidence that fitness components attenuated the high genetic predisposition to high BMI. Physical fitness components are moderators in the relationship between GRS and BMI in adolescents. These findings highlight the need for interventions targeting to improve this aspect, which is an important health indicator in all ages., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The aim of this study was to verify the association between children's body mass index and their mother's obesity, considering children's physical fitness as a possible moderator. Cross-sectional study developed with 1842 children and adolescents, aged seven to 17 years, from Santa Cruz do Sul-RS, Brazil. Body weight and height were assessed to determine body mass index. Cardiorespiratory fitness was determined by the 6-min walk/run test and muscular strength through the lower limb strength test. Mother's perception of obesity was self-assessed. Moderation was tested through a SPSS program extension. Results indicated that higher children's body mass index (p < 0.001) and lower levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (p = 0.001) and muscular strength (p = 0.035) were associated with mother's obesity. Likewise, higher body mass index (p < 0.001) and lower cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.001) in adolescents were associated with maternal obesity. Moreover, physical fitness moderates the relationship between body mass index and mother's obesity in children (cardiorespiratory fitness: β = - 0.006; 95% CI = (- 0.010, - 0.001); muscular strength: β = - 8.415; 95% CI = (- 12.526, - 4.304)) and in adolescents (cardiorespiratory fitness: β = - 0.004; 95% CI = (- 0.008, - 0.0008); muscular strength: β - 2.958; 95% CI = (- 5.615, - 0.030)).Conclusion: increasing physical fitness is an important strategy to protect youths from high body mass index, when their mothers are obese. What is Known: • Mother's obesity is associated with their children's body mass index. • Parents' obesity is associated with their children's physical fitness What is New: • Cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength are moderators in the relationship between mother's obesity and BMI of their children. • Children and adolescents with high cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength levels are protected against elevated body mass index, considering mother's obesity.

Objectives: Lifestyle, obesity, and eating habits are emerging as determinants for the instability of telomeres. The increase in childhood and adolescent obesity and the association of biochemical profiles and dietary components with telomere length (TL) makes it an important issue in nutritional research. The aim of the present study was to investigate TL and its association with ethnic background, adiposity, clinical and biochemical parameters, and dietary patterns among Brazilian children and adolescents., Methods: A cross-sectional study encompassing 981 children and adolescents between 7 and 17 y of age was performed. Dietary intake habits, anthropometry, and clinical data were collected. TL analysis was performed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction., Results: Children presented significantly longer TL than adolescents (P = 0.046). Participants who self-declared as black, mulatto, or brown (P < 0.001) also showed longer TL than those who were white. Regarding biochemical parameters, individuals with altered glucose levels had shorter TL than normoglycemic participants in the total sample (P = 0.014). Such difference remained statistically significant in adolescents (P = 0.019). Participants who reported eating fruits and vegetables regularly had longer TL than those who did not (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: The results suggested that both biochemical parameters and the intake of antioxidant-rich food, such as fruits and vegetables, are associated with the stability of telomere biology among young Brazilians., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is gradually increasing in both developed and developing countries. Obesity, for instance, can present multifactorial causes that interact with each other. Among the important factors, parental obesity plays a prominent role in the onset of obesity during childhood and teenage years through genetics and ambient aspects. This study aims to verify the possible existence of an association between overweight/obesity of schoolchildren and cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors for their parents., Subjetcs and Methods: For this purpose, a cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 1,243 children and adolescents, aged between 7 and 17. Out of the total number of participants, 563 (45.3%) were boys who were selected across 19 schools in the urban and rural areas of Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). The overweight/obesity status of the schoolchildren was evaluated through their body mass index (BMI). Additionally, a self-reference questionnaire was employed to measure their parents' CVR., Results: The results of this study revealed that students with overweight/obesity have a higher probability of having a father with hypertension (OR = 1.49; p = 0.038) and obesity (OR = 2.36; p = 0.002) and a mother with obesity (OR = 1.72; p = 0.016)., Conclusion: To conclude, this study confirms a relationship between overweight/obesity of schoolchildren with CVR for their parents.

Objective: We investigated the association of IRX3 SNP rs3751723 with anthropometric characteristics related to adiposity and potential relationships with FTO SNP rs9939609 in a population of Brazilian children and adolescents., Methods: A total of 871 children and adolescents between 7 and 17 years of age were recruited. Adiposity measurements and biochemical parameters were assessed. The variants were genotyped by real-time PCR. Analysis of multiple linear regression, multiple logistic regression, and generalised multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) adjusted for sex, age and ethnicity were applied to test the polymorphisms association with obesity-related phenotypes and the interaction between them., Results: The analyses showed that IRX3 was associated with obesity and fat percentage (BF%). An association of FTO rs9939609 with body mass index (BMI) Z-Score and with waist circumference (WC) was detected. The odds ratios (OR) showed that IRX3 rs3751723 was associated with risk of obesity in additive model (p=0.017), recessive model (p=0.016) and with high BF% in all models. FTO rs9939609 was associated with risk of obesity in additive model (p=0.031), recessive (p=0.033) and with altered WC in all models. GMDR-based predictive models for the risk of obesity, altered WC and high BF% adjusted by age, ethnicity and sex suggested no interaction of the two loci., Conclusions: The genetic variants rs3751723 and rs9939609 have an influence on the characteristics of adiposity; however, the effects of IRX3 and FTO investigated polymorphisms are independent in relation to adiposity parameters., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased worldwide. Although it is considered a polygenic inheritance disease, little is known about its susceptibility when the additive effect is considered. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the genetic risk score (GRS) based on previously associated obesity polymorphisms (SNP) rs9939609 (fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO)), rs6548238 (transmembrane protein 18 (TMEM18)) and rs16835198 (fibronectin type III domain containing 5 (FNDC5)) could serve as a predictor for anthropometric characteristics in a sample of Brazilian children and adolescents. This is a cross-sectional study with 1471 children and adolescents aged 6-17 years. BMI, waist circumference (WC) and percentage of body fat and metabolic parameters were verified. In all, three SNP were genotyped by TaqMan™ allelic discrimination. The metabolic and anthropometric parameters were compared between the genotypes, and the unweighted and weighted GRS (GRS and wGRS, respectively) were created to test the additive effect of these genetic polymorphisms on anthropometric parameters. The prevalence of overweight plus obesity was 41 %. Significant associations were identified for FTO rs9939609, TMEM18 rs6548238 and FNDC5 rs16835198 and for GRS and wGRS with anthropometric phenotypes. The higher score of wGRS was associated with obesity (OR: 2·65, 95 % CI 1·40, 5·04, P=0·003) and with greater WC (OR: 2·91, 95 % CI 1·57, 5·40, P=0·001). Our results suggest that these genetic variants contribute to obesity susceptibility in children and adolescents and reinforce the idea that the additive effect may be useful to elucidate the genetic component of obesity.

Studies focused on the mechanisms involved in the development of obesity in children and adolescents have reported associations between this condition and birth weight, sedentary lifestyle, and hereditary conditions. However, few studies have simultaneously evaluated these factors. This cross-sectional study aims to identify demographic, behavioral, and biological factors associated with overweight/obesity in children and adolescents. 381 schoolchildren aged seven to 17 years were included in the study to evaluate the associations between overweight/obesity and biological factors (including family history of obesity, birth weight, and the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) rs9939609 polymorphism), demographic variables (including gender and age), and behavioral variables (including physical activity and/or sports participation). The results of this study showed that there was a lower prevalence of obesity in schoolchildren aged 11-17 years (PR: 0.89; p =0.004). Obesity was more prevalent in children whose father (PR: 1.24; p < 0.001) and maternal grandmother (PR: 1.16; p =0.019) were obese. Higher prevalence rates of obesity were also identified in schoolchildren who were overweight at birth (PR: 1.18; p =0.002) and carriers of the obesity risk genotype (PR: 1.13; p =0.016). Biological factors, such as family history of obesity, overweight at birth, and the presence of the fat mass and obesity-associated rs9939609 polymorphism were associated with the prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents.

Background:: Children and adolescents with at-risk genotypes (AA/AT) of the rs9939609 polymorphism in FTO, a fat mass and obesity-associated gene, may exhibit different cardiometabolic profile responses than subjects with the TT genotype after an interdisciplinary intervention., Methods:: The sample consisted of 36 school children from southern Brazil. We used DNA quantitation and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for polymorphism genotyping. We measured anthropometric parameters (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip ratio, body fat percentage and skinfold sum), biochemical parameters (glucose, lipid profile, ultra-sensitive C-reactive protein, uric acid, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, insulin and adiponectin) and blood pressure. The 4-month intervention consisted of physical education classes, nutritional counseling, and postural and oral health counseling., Results:: We observed no significant differences among the groups (AA, AT and TT) after the intervention. However, we observed improvements in three parameters (waist circumference, hip circumference and C-reactive protein) in the AT/AA genotype group and in two parameters (hip circumference and uric acid) in the TT genotype group., Conclusions:: After an intervention program, carriers of at-risk genotypes for obesity (AA/AT) do not exhibit differences in biochemical parameters, blood pressure and anthropometric parameters compared with carriers of the TT genotype.

Objective: To determine the association between overweight/obesity in schoolchildren with FTO rs9939609 polymorphism (fatmass and obesity associated) and family history of obesity., Methods: Cross-sectional study comprising a sample of 406 children aged 7-17 years in a city in southern Brazil. Overweight/obesity in schoolchildren was assessed by body mass index (BMI), and family history of obesity was self-reported by parents. Polymorphism genotyping was performed by real time PCR (polymerase chain reaction). The association between the nutritional status of schoolchildren with the presence of family obesity, stratified by polymorphism genotypes (AA [at-risk for obesity], AT, and TT), was assessed by prevalence ratio values (PR) through Poisson regression., Results: Among schoolchildren with the AA genotype, 57.4% had overweight/obesity; the percentage was lower for the AT and TT genotypes (33.1% and 28.9%, respectively). Overweight/obesity in schoolchildren was associated with a family history of obesity, especially among children with the AA genotype. The prevalence was higher among those with an obese mother (PR: 1.28; p<0.001), obese maternal or paternal grandmother (PR: 1.22; p=0.047), and obese paternal grandfather (PR: 1.32; p<0.001)., Conclusions: There is an association between the AA genotype of rs9939609 polymorphism and BMI among schoolchildren. The association between overweight/obesity in schoolchildren with a family history of obesity was found mainly among students with the AA genotype., (Copyright © 2016 Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between the rs9939609 fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) polymorphism and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with overweight/obesity outcomes in youth., Methods: This study included 420 youths, comprising 211 boys and 209 girls aged 7-17. Overweight/obesity were evaluated by body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and the percentage of fat (PF) according to two skinfold thickness measurements. Genotyping of the rs9939609 polymorphism was conducted using real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) utilizing TaqMan(®) probes, and CRF was evaluated through a 9-minute run/walk test, categorized as fit or unfit. Logistic regression was utilized to evaluate a possible association between the polymorphism and CRF, with three obesity indicators evaluated., Results: Individuals with the genotype risk (AA) of FTO polymorphism rs9939609 showed higher prevalence of overweight/obesity, as evaluated by BMI (OR: 3.21; CI: 1.71-6.05), WC (OR: 2.59; CI: 1.35-4.97), and PF (OR: 2.59; CI: 1.36-4.92). Additionally, students with the AA genotype in the unfit model had a significant odds ratio for obesity (OR: 4.40; CI: 1.83-10.61 for BMI; OR: 3.54; CI: 1.58-7.96 for WC), whereas we did not observe associations between the AA genotype with BMI and WC using the fit model. Conversely, PF was associated with the AA genotype only in the fit model (OR: 3.24; CI: 1.26-8.34)., Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the rs9939609 (FTO) polymorphism showed a relationship with obesity in the population studied and an interaction with CRF. Students with low levels of CRF and the AA genotype have a higher risk of being overweight/obese. This association was not found in students with higher levels of CRF. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 28:381-386, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Context and Objective: Studies have demonstrated that metabolic complications from child obesity, although silent, increase the risk of development of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. The present paper sought to describe the prevalence of overweight/obesity and analyze the possible relationship between obesity and other cardiovascular risk factors among children and adolescents., Design and Setting: Cross-sectional study, conducted in a university., Methods: The study included 564 children and adolescents, aged 8 to 17 years. Body mass index and waist circumference were used to evaluate obesity. Other cardiovascular risk factors were evaluated, like systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glycemia, triglycerides and total cholesterol. Descriptive analysis was used for sample characterization, the chi-square test for categorical variables and Pearson's linear correlation for evaluating the relationship between obesity indicators and other cardiovascular risk factors., Results: High prevalence of overweight/obesity was found among the schoolchildren (25.3% among the boys and 25.6% among the girls), along with abdominal obesity (19.0%). The overweight/obese schoolchildren presented higher percentages for the pressure and biochemical indicators, compared with underweight and normal-weight schoolchildren. Body mass index and waist circumference showed a weak correlation with the variables of age and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.001), but there was no correlation between these obesity indices and biochemical variables., Conclusion: The high prevalence of overweight/obesity and its relationship with other cardiovascular risk factors demonstrate that it is necessary to develop intervention and prevention strategies from childhood onwards, in order to avoid development of chronic-degenerative diseases in adulthood.