Macapa, Porto Alegre and Christmas are the champions capitals of obesity in the country

Macapa, Porto Alegre and Natal lead the ranking of obesity in the country, according to data from research Surveillance Protection and Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases Telephone Interviews (Vigitel) 2011, Ministry of Health, released this year. Obesity and overweight are problems that affect all capitals. The percentage numbers reach above 12%.

The capitals are champions Macapa, with 21.4%; Porto Alegre, with 19.6%; Christmas, with 18.5%; Fortaleza, with 18.4% and Campo Grande, with 18.1%.

In the other Brazilian states recorded percentages of obesity in Rio de Janeiro are 16.5% in Birmingham, 15.5%, in the Federal District, 15%, and in Belo Horizonte, 14.2%, this percentage is showed slightly lower.

There is a difference between obesity and overweight, obesity is considered a chronic disease by medicine, characterized by excess body fat, which causes damage to the health of the person. What defines a situation from another is the Body Mass Index (BMI), normal is 18.5 to 24.9. It is considered overweight index greater than 25, and obese people have a BMI above 30.

Some had obesity rates of around 12%, although that number lower, still worries. They are, Teresina with 12.8%, with 12.9% St. Louis, Boa Vista with 13%, with 13.2% Belém and Goiânia with 13.3%.

The Ministry of Health assesses obesity based on a group of people whose BMI ranges from 25 to 29, according to experts. However, there is no ideal weight because, according to experts, the value of each individual dependedas carasterísticas and various factors such as age, sex, height and physical structure.

The capitals indicate that individuals with the greatest excess weight are: Porto Alegre, with 55.4%; Fortaleza, with 53.7%; Maceió, with 53.1% and Manaus, with 51.8%. The Rio de Janeiro has 49.9%, 47.9% records São Paulo, Federal District appears with 49.1% and 45.3% recorded Belo Horizonte.

Among the capital with the lowest percentage of people who are overweight, are St. Louis with 39.8%, Palmas, with 40.3%, and Salvador, with 44.8%.

For children how to assess the BMI of children is different, the ministry uses the card in monitoring child health clinics that evaluate the height, weight and age.

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