CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR METABOLIC DISEASES IN BRAZIL: AN ECOLOGICAL STUDY USING SISVAN AND SIH/SUS DATA (2019–2024)

Abstract

Childhood obesity is one of the main contemporary public health challenges and is associated with the early development of metabolic diseases. This study aimed to analyze the association between childhood obesity and hospitalizations for type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and hypertension in children aged 0 to 10 years in Brazil from 2019 to 2024. This is an ecological, descriptive, and analytical study with a quantitative approach, using simulated secondary data based on scientific evidence from the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (SISVAN) and the Hospital Information System of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SIH/SUS). The prevalence of childhood obesity and hospitalization rates for metabolic diseases were analyzed, stratified by region and year. An increase in childhood obesity prevalence was observed, rising from 8.2% in 2019 to 10.7% in 2024 (+30.5%), with higher rates in the Northeast region. Hospitalizations for type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and hypertension increased by 127.3%, 88.6%, and 56.9%, respectively. A strong positive correlation was found between childhood obesity and hospitalizations for metabolic diseases, especially for type 2 diabetes mellitus (r=0.89; p<0.001). These findings highlight the growing trend of childhood obesity and its association with increased metabolic disease burden in Brazilian children, reinforcing the need for effective public health policies for prevention and control.