[Spatial analysis of childhood overweight in Brazil and its relationship with macro, meso, and microenvironmental determinants].

Abstract

This research analyzed the spatial distribution and the association between environmental factors and childhood overweight (OW), using municipal-level data from the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (2019) to estimate the prevalence of OW and its magnitude as a public health problem among infants, preschoolers, and school-aged children. The Moran's index for spatial correlation was performed, and generalized linear mixed models for the associations between OW and the micro (prevalence of obesity in women), meso (density of unhealthy businesses/10,000 inhabitants), and macro environment (Sustainable Cities Development Index - IDSC). The respective prevalences were high/very high among infants, preschoolers, and school-aged children in 28%, 75%, and 77% of the cities. The higher the IDSC, the lower the prevalence of OW among infants and preschoolers; among school-aged children, there was a positive association between OW and the micro and meso environment. It is concluded that there are spatial clusters of OW in all macro-regions, with macroenvironmental factors providing protection against OW in children under five years of age, while micro and mesoenvironmental factors pose risk for OW school-aged children.