This study aimed to determine the prevalence of overweight and associated risk factors in children and adolescents in Pernambuco State, Brazil, in 2006. The cross-sectional, population-based study included 1,435 individuals from 5 to 19 years of age. Poisson regression was used to evaluate the association between selected variables and overweight. Prevalence was 13.3% for overweight (95%CI: 11.6-15.1) and 3.8% for obesity. Adjusted prevalence ratios showed that higher family income, maternal schooling, possession of household consumer goods, living in urban areas, and maternal overweight were associated with overweight in children and adolescents. The high prevalence of overweight in Pernambuco emphasizes the need for public health measures targeting all families regardless of socioeconomic status.