Racial differences in the tracking of childhood BMI to adulthood

OBJECTIVE: The possibility that there are racial differences in the patterns of BMI (kilograms per meter squared) change throughout life has not been examined. For example, the high prevalence of obesity among black women could result from a higher prevalence of obesity among black girls or because normal-weight black girls experience larger BMI increases in adolescence or adulthood than do their white counterparts. Therefore, we examined the tracking of childhood BMI into adulthood in a biracial (36% black) sample. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Five- to 14-year-old children (2392) were followed for (mean) 17 years. Childhood overweight was defined as BMI > or = 95th percentile, and adult obesity was defined as BMI > or = 30 kg/m(2). RESULTS: The tracking of childhood BMI differed between whites and blacks. Among overweight children, 65% of white girls vs. 84% of black girls became obese adults, and predictive values among boys were 71% (whites) vs. 82% (blacks). These racial differences reflected contrasting patterns in the rate of BMI change. Although the initial BMI of black children was not higher than that of white children, BMI increases with age were larger among black girls and overweight black boys than among their white counterparts. In contrast, relatively thin (BMI < 50th percentile) white boys were more likely to become overweight adults than were their black counterparts. DISCUSSION: These findings emphasize the black/white differences in BMI changes with age. Because of the adult health consequences of childhood-onset obesity, early prevention should be given additional emphasis.     

Childhood Asthma and Extreme Values of Body Mass Index: The Harlem Children’s Zone Asthma Initiative

To examine the association between body mass index (BMI) percentile and asthma in children 2-11 years of age, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of 853 Black and Hispanic children from a community-based sample of 2- to 11-year olds with measured heights and weights screened for asthma by the Harlem Children's Zone Asthma Initiative. Current asthma was defined as parent/guardian-reported diagnosis of asthma and asthma-related symptoms or emergency care in the previous 12 months. Among girls, asthma prevalence increased approximately linearly with increasing body mass index (BMI) percentile, from a low of 12.0% among underweight girls (BMI 95th percentile). After adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and household smoking, among girls, having asthma was associated with being at risk for overweight (odds ratio [OR], 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-5.0) and being overweight (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2-3.8) compared to normal weight; among boys, having asthma was associated both with overweight (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.4-4.3) and with underweight (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.1-7.7). Large, prospective studies that include very young children are needed to further explore the observed association between underweight and asthma among boys. Early interventions that concomitantly address asthma and weight gain are needed among pre-school and school-aged children.     

Growth status of Jordanian schoolchildren in military-funded schools

OBJECTIVE: To study the growth status of Jordanian boys and girls in comparison with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) growth charts. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS AND DATA COLLECTION: A total of 5826 boys and 1414 girls, aged 6.5-17.5 y, were included in the study. Height and weight were measured. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight (kg) divided by the square of the height (m). Socioeconomic data were collected using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: The height-for-age values fluctuated between the 5th and 10th percentiles of the CDC for both sexes, and then after the age of 8.5 and 14.5 y for boys and girls, respectively, values were just above the 10th percentile. The body weight-for-age values were just above the 25th percentile for boys and fluctuated between the 25th and 50th percentiles for girls; then after the age of 14.5 and 12.5 y for boy and girls, respectively, values fluctuated between the 25th and 50th percentiles for boys and just above the 50th percentile for girls of the CDC values. BMI values for boys were just above the 50th percentile of the CDC and for girls values fluctuated between the 50th and 75th percentiles until the age of 13.5, then values matched the 75th percentile of the CDC. CONCLUSION: The height of Jordanian children ranges from the 5th to the 10th percentile of the CDC reference values during schools years. Girls have a tendency toward obesity after puberty.     

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in urban and semi-urban Jordanian children aged 3-6 years

Objectives   To show the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the Jordanian urban and semi-urban children; to compare their body mass index (BMI) with the international standards of BMI.
Methods   We measured 1695 healthy children (842 boys and 853 girls) between 3 and 6 years for height, weight and mid upper arm circumference. BMI was calculated and transformed into percentiles. Children were divided into boys and girls.
Results   The mean and SD values of BMI observed in our study were 16.69 ± 4.9 kg/m² for boys and 16.82 ± 4.77 kg/m² for girls aged 3–6 years. The prevalence of obesity and overweight among boys was 20.8% and 3.8% respectively and among girls was 19.1% and 7.2% respectively. In total, 48.0% of boys and 38.1% of girls were of healthy weight.
Conclusions   The mean BMI observed in our study's children aged 3–6 years was higher than the expected 50th percentile of the (World Health Organization/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reference values for a similar age range but, it was equivalent to the 75th percentile values. Obesity was more frequent than overweight among boys and girls aged 3–6 years.     

Central adiposity in Brazilian schoolchildren aged 7-10 years

Waist circumference (WC) is a measure of central adiposity related to elevated risk factor levels in children and adolescents. The aim of the present study was to describe WC percentiles in 7- to 10-year-old Brazilian children and to compare frequencies of obesity and overweight as defined by BMI and frequencies of excess and at risk of abdominal adiposity as defined by WC to the corresponding age and sex data from British references. A representative sample of 2919 schoolchildren of the city of Florianopolis (southern Brazil) was examined. Smoothed WC percentiles were derived using the least mean square method. Frequencies of overweight and obesity and of excess and at risk of abdominal adiposity were assessed using the 91st and 98th centiles of the British references as cut-off points. WC increased with age in both boys and girls, with higher values for boys at every age and percentile level. Nutritional status categories of children assessed by the 91st and 98th British BMI and WC centiles showed moderate agreement (weighted kappa = 0.58). Overweight was more frequent in Brazilian than British children: 15.1 % of girls and 20.1 % of boys were above the 91st percentile of the 1990 BMI for age British references. About one-quarter (22.0 % of girls and 26.9 % of boys) exceeded the 91st percentile of WC British references. The present data could be used to compare WC in children in other populations and may serve as a baseline for future studies of temporal trends in WC in Brazil.     

Additive interactions of maternal prepregnancy BMI and breast-feeding on childhood overweight

OBJECTIVE: To examine the interactions of maternal prepregnancy BMI and breast-feeding on the risk of overweight among children 2 to 14 years of age. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The 1996 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, Child and Young Adult data in the United States were analyzed (n = 2636). The weighted sample represented 51.3% boys, 78.0% whites, 15.0% blacks, and 7.0% Hispanics. Childhood overweight was defined as BMI >/=95th percentile for age and sex. Maternal prepregnancy obesity was determined as BMI >/=30 kg/m(2). The duration of breast-feeding was measured as the weeks of age from birth when breast-feeding ended. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounders, children whose mothers were obese before pregnancy were at a greater risk of becoming overweight [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 4.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.6, 6.4] than children whose mothers had normal BMI (<25 kg/m(2); p < 0.001 for linear trend). Breast-feeding for >/=4 months was associated with a lower risk of childhood overweight (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4, 1.0; p = 0.06 for linear trend). The additive interaction between maternal prepregnancy obesity and lack of breast-feeding was detected (p < 0.05), such that children whose mothers were obese and who were never breast-fed had the greatest risk of becoming overweight (OR, 6.1; 95% CI, 2.9, 13.1). DISCUSSION: The combination of maternal prepregnancy obesity and lack of breast-feeding may be associated with a greater risk of childhood overweight. Special attention may be needed for children with obese mothers and lack of breast-feeding in developing childhood obesity intervention programs.     

Food insecurity and gender are risk factors for obesity

OBJECTIVE: Examine relationships between adult obesity, childhood overweight, and food insecurity. DESIGN: Cross-sectional retrospective study. SETTING: Community settings in Hartford, Connecticut. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 200 parents and their 212 children, aged 2-12. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Adult obesity (Body Mass Index [BMI] > 30), childhood overweight (BMI-for-age > 95(th) percentile), and household food security (U.S. Department of Agriculture module). ANALYSIS: Chi-square tests between weight status and socioeconomic characteristics. Multinomial regression analyses to determine risk factors for adult obesity and childhood overweight. RESULTS: Over half of parents (51%) were obese, and almost one-third of children (31.6%) were overweight. Over half of households were food insecure. Food insecure adults were significantly more likely to be obese as those who were food secure (Odds Ratio [OR]=2.45, p = .02). Being a girl and having an obese parent doubled the likelihood of children being overweight (OR=2.56, P = .01; OR=2.32, P = .03). Children with family incomes below 100% of poverty were half as likely to be overweight as those with higher incomes (OR=.47, P = .05). Food insecurity did not increase odds of childhood overweight. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Obesity prevention programs and policies need to address food insecurity and gender as key risk factors.     

上海市2000-2014年中小学生体质量指数变化趋势

了解2000-2014年上海市学龄儿童青少年体质量指数(BMI)的变化趋势,为儿童青少年超重、肥胖判别标准研制及预防干预提供参考.方法 选取2000,2005,2010,2014年4次全国学生体质与健康调研中7~18岁儿童青少年作为研究对象.应用最小均方(Least Mean Square,LMS)法探讨不同性别、年龄组儿童青少年BMI的变化趋势.结果 14年间学生BMI P85低年龄组差异比较小,随年龄增加差异逐渐增大,青春期后有减小的趋势,男生平均增加2.1百分点,女生平均增加1.3百分点.学生BMI增长主要集中在中等和高百分位数,尤其是P90后,差值逐渐增大.7~11,12~15岁男生在P5o后差值均逐渐增大,P95分别达2.0,3.2百分点,其中12岁男生从23.4 kg/m2增加到26.8 kg/m2,14岁女生从24.0 kg/m2增加到25.9 kg/m2.与WGOC标准相比,2014年男生BMI P85,P95均较高,而女生BMI P85 10岁之前高于WGOC标准,从11岁开始与WGOC标准基本相一致.2014年上海市7~18岁儿童青少年超重、肥胖检出率分别为15.4%,9.1%,较2000年总体均呈上升趋势,分别上升6.4,5.2百分点.结论 BMI分布高百分位的个体比低百分位个体的变化更大.在肥胖防治工作中,加强对群体BMI曲线的监测分析,对适时调整宏观调控战略意义重大.     

Deprivation and childhood obesity: a cross sectional study of 20,973 children in Plymouth, United Kingdom

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between socioeconomic deprivation and childhood obesity. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: All state primary schools in Plymouth. Plymouth is a relatively deprived city in the United Kingdom, ranking 338th of 366 local authorities on the Department of the Environment Index of Local Conditions. SUBJECTS: 20 973 children between the ages of 5 and 14 years, 1994-96. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Numbers of obese children (body mass index (BMI) above the 98th centile) by quarters of Townsend score. RESULTS: Plymouth had a rate of childhood obesity two and half times that expected nationally (5% v 2%). The obesity prevalence increased with age, being almost double in the oldest age quarter (boys 6.2%; girls 7.0%), compared with the youngest age quarter. Within Plymouth, there was a significant trend for higher rates of obesity related to increasing deprivation in both boys (p=0. 017) and girls (p=0.018). The odds ratio (OR) for childhood obesity (highest-lowest quarter of Townsend scores) had borderline significance in boys (OR 1.29, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.00 to 1.65, p=0.049) but was larger and more significant in the girls (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.80, p=0.011). Unlike boys, the association between obesity in girls and Townsend scores became stronger with age such that in the oldest age quarter (over 11.7 years), girls in the highest quarter of Townsend scores were nearly twice as likely be obese, as compared with the lowest quarter (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.23 to 3.08, p=0.005). State of pubertal development could not be accounted for as this information was not available. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence for an association between deprivation and childhood obesity in this English population. The health of children from deprived households is affected by a number of adverse influences. The high prevalence of obesity in these children is yet another factor that could predispose to greater morbidity in adult life.     

Gender-related behavior during childhood and associations with adult abdominal obesity: a nested case-control study in women

Abdominal obesity affects many aspects of women's health, and recent studies indicate that hyperandrogenicity (HA) may contribute to the excess of body fat in women. As hormone behavior research attributes male-like play patterns in childhood to the effects of androgens, the aim of the present study was to assess the potential association of such behavior with obesity in adult women. In a randomly selected sample of 40-year-old women (n = 1464), 78% volunteered to respond to a questionnaire collecting information on the effect of other variables on childhood behavior. Self-reported body weight, height, and waist and hip circumferences were used to calculate body mass index (BMI) and waist/hip ratio (WHR). Age at menarche showed an inverse association with overweight (BMI > or = 25) (odds ratio [OR] = 0.82). Reports of gender-related behavior as a child showed that playing with girls and girl toys was negatively related to both overweight and abdominal obesity (WHR > or = 0.85). Among respondents who were overweight, relationships were found for playing with boys (OR = 0.90) and fighting (OR = 1.70). The OR of playing with boy toys and fighting among respondents with abdominal obesity were increased 1.12 and 1.65, respectively. Interests in athletics as a child seemed to decrease the risk for overweight (OR = 0.89) and abdominal obesity (OR = 0.91). Furthermore, dose-response analysis between the individual exposure levels and the OR for overweight showed a negative trend for playing with girls (p = 0.002) and girl toys (p = 0.017) and a positive trend for playing with boys (p = 0.011) and fighting (p = 0.031). Among respondents with abdominal obesity, positive dose-response effects were found for playing with boys (p = 0.026) and boy toys (p = 0.036) and fighting (p = 0.008). Thus, women with an elevated WHR showed a preference to play with boys and boy toys and also fought frequently as children. This might be a sign of a relative HA in childhood ("tomboyism"). These preliminary observations suggest that HA may originate in childhood.     

A comparison of distribution curves of body mass index from Brazil and the United States for assessing overweight and obesity in Brazilian adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of recommendations for use of the 85th and 95th percentiles of body mass index (BMI) of the population in the United States of America as a screening tool to assess overweight/obesity in adolescents. METHODS: We investigated the relation between BMI and percent body fat in 1,540 adolescents (717 males and 823 females) aged 10 to 17.9 years old from a private high school in Niterói, a city in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We used bioelectric impedance, with the appropriate equations for adolescents, to estimate percent body fat, which served as the gold standard (30% for girls and 25% for boys) to calculate the sensitivity and specificity of the 85th and 95th percentiles of the United States and Brazilian distribution curves of BMI. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity were high (above 80%) for the Niterói boys, except for the 85th percentile of the Brazilian curve (specificity = 61.8%) and for the 95th percentile of the United States curve (sensitivity = 55.4%). For the Niterói girls, the 85th- and 95th-percentile BMI cutoff points, from both the United States and Brazilian curves, showed low sensitivity, and that sensitivity decreased with age. Specificity was high for the girls, and much higher than it was for the boys. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that using BMI to screen for overweight/obesity in adolescents can generate a high percentage of false-positives for Niterói boys and an even higher percentage of false-negatives for Niterói girls. A more universal approach to using anthropometric measures to screen for overweight/obesity should be developed, preferably linked to stages of maturation.     

Biobehavioral factors are associated with obesity in Puerto Rican children

The purpose of this case-control study was to identify predictors of obesity among Puerto Rican children from Hartford, CT. The study included 53 prepubertal children, 31 girls and 22 boys, between 7 and 10 y of age. Children were classified as obese [n = 29, body mass index (BMI) >/= 85th percentile] or controls (n = 24, BMI < 85th percentile). Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that frequency of fruit juice consumption [odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI); 4.02, 1.48-10.95], hours of daily TV viewing (1.86, 1.02-3.42), maternal BMI (1.39, 1.10-1.77) and lower dairy product intake (0.41, 0.19-0.93) were associated with obesity. Television viewing was correlated (P < 0.05) with lower physical activity in girls, and with higher snacking frequency and sweets consumption in boys. Obese children were more likely than controls to have higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures and to have experienced more ear infections and diarrhea during the previous year. Results provide evidence of the multifactorial nature of childhood obesity in this community.     

Impact of parental BMI on the manifestation of overweight 5–7 year old children

Summary Background There is an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obese children. Genetic and environmental factors are contributing factors but the influence of parental nutritional state on early manifestation of overweight is not well characterised. Aim of the study To systematically investigate the impact of parental BMI on the manifestation of overweight in 5 to 7 year old children. Methods Cross-sectional study (as a part of the Kiel Obesity Prevention Study [KOPS]) of 3306 children aged 5–7 years and their parents. The nutritional state of the children (BMI, triceps skinfold, fat mass, prevalence of overweight) was investigated in subgroups differing with respect to parental BMI. Results BMI of the children was significantly correlated with parental BMI (r = 0.272, p < 0.01). Children's BMI showed closer associations with maternal than with paternal BMI (r = 0.254 vs. 0.159, p < 0.01). A multivariate regression analysis showed that parental BMI explained 7.6 % of the variance in children's BMI. OR for overweight was elevated in children with at least one overweight parent (overweight mother: OR 2.9 (boys)/3.1 (girls); overweight father: OR 1.8 (boys)/2.4 (girls). OR was highest for children with two obese parents (OR 7.6 (boys)/6.3 (girls). Children with one obese parent were more frequently overweight than children with one overweight parent. Conclusions Parental BMI showed only a weak correlation with the BMI of their children. However, children's risk of becoming overweight increased with parental overweight and obesity. Thus, familial disposition has to be taken into account to identify risk groups for preventive measures. Received: 5 February 2002, Accepted: 2 May 2002     

One- and two-year predictors of excess weight gain among elementary schoolchildren in multiethnic, low-income, inner-city neighborhoods

Longitudinal studies are needed to increase understanding of the causes of childhood obesity. To identify 1- and 2-year predictors of excess weight gain among preadolescents, the authors conducted a prospective cohort study of fourth- and fifth-grade students in 16 elementary schools located in multiethnic, low-income neighborhoods in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, that were participating in the evaluation of a school-based heart health promotion program. Subjects included 2,318 children aged 9-12 years with baseline and 1-year follow-up data and 633 children aged 9-11 years with baseline and 2-year follow-up data. One-year predictors of highest decile of change in body mass index (BMI) identified in logistic regression analyses included baseline BMI of 90th percentile or more (odds ratio (OR) = 2.66, 95% confidence interval: 1.80, 3.94) in boys and baseline BMI of 90th percentile or more (OR = 2.34, 95% confidence interval: 1.46, 3.76), no sports outside school (OR = 1.90, 95% confidence interval: 1.18, 3.06), and playing video games everyday (OR = 2.48, 95% confidence interval: 1.04, 5.92) in girls. Two-year predictors included baseline BMI of 90th percentile or more (OR = 3.26, 95% confidence interval: 1.52, 7.01), no sports outside school (OR = 2.14, 95% confidence interval: 0.96, 4.77), and least active (OR = 2.18, 95% confidence interval: 1.01, 4.71) in boys; only baseline BMI of 90th percentile or more (OR = 2.22, 95% confidence interval: 1.02, 4.81) was significant in girls. Results suggest the need for interventions to promote increased physical activity in children.     

Long-term food stamp program participation is differentially related to overweight in young girls and boys

This paper examines the relation between long-term Food Stamp Program (FSP) participation and overweight in children using data on children from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 Child Sample. A child was categorized as overweight if his or her BMI was >/= the 95th percentile of sex- and age-specific BMI. The data were arranged as a panel with multiple observations per child, and the preferred models of overweight included long-term FSP participation, additional demographic, socioeconomic, and environmental characteristics, and child fixed effects. Child fixed effects were used to take into account unobserved differences across children that did not vary over time. The models were estimated separately for younger (5-11 y old) and older (12-18 y old) children. In Ordinary Least Squares models, long-term FSP participation was positively and significantly related to overweight in young girls (P = 0.048), and negatively and significantly related to overweight in young boys (P = 0.100). Compared with girls and boys whose families did not participate in the FSP during the previous 5 y, FSP participation during all of the previous 5 y was associated with a 42.8% increase for young girls and a 28.8% decrease for young boys in the predicted probability of overweight. Long-term FSP participation was not significantly related to overweight in older children. Although these models did not control for food insecurity, the potential role of food insecurity in FSP participation was considered in the interpretation of the relation between FSP participation and child weight.     

Mexican anthropometric percentiles for ages 10-18

OBJECTIVE: To elaborate Mexican growth charts based on international methodology. DESIGN: Data were obtained from the Mexican National Health Survey. The survey was stratified and probabilistic representative of all the country. SETTING: Nationwide open population living in urban and rural areas. SUBJECTS: Boys (8545) and girls (9983) from 10 to 18 years participating in the survey. METHODS: Age, weight and height were recorded. Empirical percentiles were calculated and smoothed. Smoothed curves were approximated using least-mean square estimation. RESULTS: Tables and figures for percentile values of weight, height and body mass index (BMI) for age, as well as percentile values of weight and BMI for height for both genders are presented. Regarding 50th BMI for age percentiles, Mexicans had higher levels than the Americans in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts; Mexicans were lower but had similar weights than the Americans. Owing to the high BMI, the percentile corresponding to an overweight level (25 kg/m(2)) at 18 years was 74.5 in boys and 72.5 in girls, whereas obesity level (30 kg/m(2)) at 18 years was 97.3 and 97.4 in boys and girls, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present growth charts are snapshots of a Mexican population. Because of the high median BMI compared to US and World Health Organization standards, we must be cautious in establishing an upper normal cutoff for clinical normality, not merely selecting the 85th and 95th percentiles as equivalents of overweight and obesity, respectively. Therefore, we proposed percentiles 74.5 in boys and 72.5 in girls as the action points of overweight as they are the percentiles corresponding to BMI 25 kg/m(2) at 18 years. SPONSORSHIP: The survey was supported by the Mexican Minister of Health. Statistical analyses were sponsored by Dr Del-Rio-Navarro.     

Body mass index in adolescence in relation to total mortality: 32-year follow-up of 227,000 Norwegian boys and girls

A large number of studies have explored the relation between body mass index (BMI) and mortality in adults. The relation between BMI in adolescence and mortality has been investigated to a lesser extent. It has been suggested that all-cause mortality is elevated among those who were overweight during adolescence, but the limitation of previous studies has been study size. The present study explored this relation in a Norwegian cohort of 227,003 boys and girls, aged 14-19 years, whose height and weight were measured during tuberculosis screening in 1963-1975. These persons were followed for an average of 31.5 years (about 7.2 million person-years). A total of 7,516 deaths were registered. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were used in the analyses. An increasing risk of death by increasing BMI in adolescence was observed. Mortality among males whose baseline BMI was between the 85th and 95th percentiles and above the 95th percentile in the US reference population was 30% and 80% higher, respectively, than that among those whose baseline BMI was between the 25th and 75th percentiles. The corresponding rates among females were 30% and 100%. The excess mortality among adolescents whose BMI was high was not clearly manifested before they reached their thirties. Hence, BMI in adolescence is predictive of adult mortality.     

Childhood overweight in a New York City WIC population

OBJECTIVES: We estimated the prevalence of overweight in a population of young children enrolled in a New York City Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. METHODS: Administrative and survey data were collected from a sample of enrolled families. Body mass index (BMI) of 557 children aged 2, 3, and 4 years was compared by sociodemographic and nutrition characteristics. RESULTS: Forty percent of the children were overweight or at risk for overweight (BMI >/= 85th percentile). Compared with other racial/ethnic groups combined, Hispanic children were more than twice as likely (odds ratio = 2.6; 95% confidence interval = 1.8, 3.8) to be overweight or at risk for overweight. Two-year-olds were less likely to be overweight than 3- and 4-year-olds. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to address childhood overweight should be culturally specific and target very young children.     

Die Verbreitung von Übergewicht und Adipositas bei Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland

Overweight and obesity are an increasing problem: worldwide, for Germany and for children and adolescents. Until now there have been no representative and age-specific assessments of the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents in Germany. Thus, the standardised height and weight measurements gathered in the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) have, for the first time, provided national, representative data about overweight and obesity in young people. The terms 'overweight' and 'obese' are defined based on percentiles of the body mass index (BMI) of the Kromeyer-Hauschild reference system. Of children and adolescents between the ages of 3 and 17, 15% exceed the 90th BMI percentile of the reference data and are thus overweight, 6.3% exceed the 97th BMI percentile and thus suffer from obesity by this definition. The proportion of overweight rises from 9% of 3-6-year-olds to 15% of 7-10-year-olds and 17% of 14-17-year-olds. The prevalence of obesity is 2.9%, 6.4% and 8.5% for the same age groups respectively. No clear differences between boys and girls or between East and West Germany are detected. Children are at a higher risk of being overweight or obese if they have a lower socioeconomic status, have a migration background, or have mothers who are also overweight.