La obesidad continúa siendo una de las principales preocupaciones en la actualidad, suponiendo un importante desen­cadenante de enfermedades cardiovasculares. Es importante abordar este problema desde la infancia con el fin de evitar problemas futuros mayores. Es por ello que en el presente estudio se ha pretendido analizar el sobrepeso y la obesidad en escolares extremeños y describir sus características antropométricas y metabólicas por sexo. Participaron 233 sujetos (9 - 12 años) pertenecientes a centros de primaria de Extremadura (España). Se clasificaron en función del índice de masa corporal (normopeso, sobrepeso y obesidad).

Currently, obesity is one of the main problems in our society. It is a considerable origin of cardiovascular disseises. It is important to treat this problem from childhood with the aim to prevent higher problems in the future. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyse the overweight and obesity in schoolchildren from Extremadura and describe their anthropometric and metabolic characteristics by gender. 233 participants (between 9 and 12 years old) took part in this study. They were schoolchildren from public schools in Extremadura (Spain). They were classified by their body mass index (normal weight, overweight and obesity).