It is well-recognised that obesity is a complex, multifactorial condition which includes both genetic and environmental factors. Although it is controversial, there is evidence that behavioural problems and being overweight are associated. Furthermore, relatively few studies have analysed the role of resilience in this relationship.

Objective To analyse the association between behaviour problems (BP) and the overweight condition (OW) among adolescents and to examine the role of resilience and gender.

Methods A cross-sectional study of 951 adolescents aged 11–18 years old who live in Monte Gordo district, a mixed rural-urban region in the northeast of Brazil. The overweight condition was defined as BMI/age z-score greater than +1SD (WHO, 2007). Behaviour problems were estimated by Youth Self Report (YSR/11–18). Resilience was measured by the Wagnild & Young scale. The 90^th percentile was used as the cut-off for behavioural problems and resilience scores below the 25^th percentile was considered low resilience. OR was obtained using multiple logistic regression.

Results We observed an overweight prevalence of 14.7% and identified behaviour problems in 9.9% of subjects. The association between BP and the overweight condition remained after adjusting for gender, resilience, age, ethnicity and socio-economic level (OR: 2.06; 95% CI 1.23 to 3.46). Low resilience was not significant but following a stratified analysis for gender we observed an association between BP and OW only in females (OR: 2.54; 95% CI 1.41 to 4.58).

Conclusion The results demonstrate an association between behaviour disturbance and the overweight condition in female adolescents with no protective effect of resilience. We recommend greater incentives to reduce the stressors to which adolescents are exposed.