Objective:

Overweight and obesity are a public health problem of particular importance for the most vulnerable populations. The problem is significant because of the impact of childhood obesity on future cardiovascular health. The objective of this investigation was to describe the prevalence of school- age overweight and obesity in Bogota's vulnerable population, and the school context in which they present.

Materials and methods:

an anthropometric assessment was performed in two schools. The height for age and body mass index Z scores were obtained according to the growth standards of the World Health Organisation and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Subsequently both schools were identified and a focus group was formed with the teachers regarding what a healthy school should comprise.

Results and conclusions:

There was a 5.54% prevalence of obesity in one of the schools, and 3.68% in the other. The prevalence of overweight was 14.61% in one school, and 9.82% in the other. Despite the fact that a healthy diet was highlighted by the teachers as an important characteristic in schools, this was not reflected in the institutional education project. There were differences in the prevalence of obesity and overweight between the schools, and between the sexes. Therefore, further studies are required to enable an in-depth exploration of the causative associations.

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