The epidemiology of overweight and obesity among Australian children and adolescents, 1995-97

OBJECTIVES: To determine the population prevalence of overweight and obesity among Australian children and adolescents, based on measured body mass index (BMI). To determine if overweight and obesity are distributed differentially across the population of young Australians. METHODS: Data from three independent surveys were analysed. In each, height and weight were measured by trained surveyors using valid, comparable methods. BMI (kg/m2) was used as the index of adiposity and recently published international BMI cut-off values used to categorise each subject as non-overweight, overweight or obese. RESULTS: The population prevalence and distribution of overweight, obesity and overweight/obesity combined were generally consistent across datasets. The ranges of the prevalence of non-overweight, overweight, obesity and overweight/obesity combined were 79-81%, 14-16%, 5% and 19-21% (boys) respectively and 76-79%, 16-18%, 5-6% and 21-24% (girls). There were no consistent relationships between the prevalence of overweight/obesity and sex, age or SES. Their prevalence was up to 4% higher in urban than rural areas among boys, but there were no differences between urban and rural girls. The data suggest a higher prevalence of overweight/ obesity among students from European or Middle-Eastern cultural backgrounds. CONCLUSIONS: Some 19-23% of Australian children and adolescents are either overweight or obese. Although urban/rural, SES and cultural background differentials were noted, only the last warrants a targeted health promotion response. IMPLICATIONS: Overweight/obesity is a prevalent health risk factor among Australian children and adolescents. More information is needed to understand whether targeted approaches are required for specific ethnic groups in addition to broad, population-based approaches.     

中国6~17岁儿童青少年超重肥胖流行特征

目的 分析我国6~17岁儿童青少年超重肥胖流行情况,为制定肥胖防治策略提供科学依据。方法 利用"2010-2012年中国居民营养与健康状况监测"中6~17岁儿童青少年调查资料,分析我国儿童青少年超重肥胖现状。6岁儿童采用WHO 2007年推荐的分年龄性别BMI超重肥胖判定标准判定超重肥胖,7~17岁儿童青少年采用《中国学龄儿童青少年超重和肥胖预防与控制指南》中的分年龄、性别的BMI超重肥胖判定标准进行判定。结果 6~17岁儿童青少年超重率和肥胖率分别为9.6%和6.4%,其中城市儿童青少年超重率和肥胖率分别为11.0%（男生：12.8%,女生：9.0%）和7.7%（男生：9.7%,女生：5.5%）,农村儿童青少年超重率和肥胖率分别为8.4%（男生：9.3%,女生：7.4%）和5.2%（男生：6.2%,女生：4.1%）。按家庭经济收入水平分,高、中和低家庭收入儿童青少年的超重率分别为12.3%、10.7%和8.2%,肥胖率分别为8.6%、7.2%和5.7%。结论 2012年,我国6~17岁儿童青少年超重肥胖表现为城市高于农村,男生高于女生;患病率与家庭经济收入水平有关。     

The B'Active programme for overweight primary school children in Glasgow: determining the prevalence of overweight and obesity and piloting an activity intervention

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in primary school children in Glasgow and to evaluate a pilot activity programme for overweight and obese children. BMI was measured in 1548 children. Overweight, obesity and severe obesity were defined as BMI > or =85th, 95th and 98th centile, respectively. Overweight and obese children were then invited to participate in a 10-week school-based activity programme. The programme was evaluated by recording weekly attendance, intensity (using the Children's Effort Rating Scale) and enjoyment (scale 1-10). Focus groups were used to explore the experiences and views of the children, teachers, coaches and parents. Of the 1548 children, 31.4% were overweight, 19.1% were obese and 12.4% were severely obese; 38% of those invited attended the activity programme. Weekly programme attendance was 83% (range 56-99%). Mean enjoyment rating (scale 1-10) was 8 for boys and 9 for girls. The intensity of activity sessions were rated 'very easy' by boys and 'just feeling a strain' by girls. Common themes emerging from the focus groups related to perceived positive and negative aspects of the programme (fun, concerns about stigmatising children); physical and psychological outcomes (fitter, more confident); and future recommendations (involve parents). In summary, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was high. The activity programme was successful in terms of attendance and enjoyment, and overall views of the initiative were positive and there was compelling support for its continuation.     

张家口市卫华小学7~12岁儿童肥胖与血压及肺活量的相关分析

目的 了解张家口市卫华小学7~12岁儿童肥胖发生情况,分析儿童期肥胖与血压及肺活量的关系。 方法 于2012年9月通过整群抽样的方法,对张家口市卫华小学1 530名儿童进行体重、身高、血压、肺活量等相关指标进行测量。计算体质指数(body mass index,BMI),依据BMI值筛查超重、肥胖儿童,统计分析肥胖与血压水平及肺活量的关系。结果 受检人群总体超重检出率为13.01%,肥胖检出率为14.25%,其中男童、女童超重检出率分别为17.2%和8.31%,男童、女童肥胖检出率分别为14.23%和8.59%,男童超重、肥胖检出率均显著高于女童(P<0.01);超重和肥胖儿童的收缩压和舒张压水平均显著高于体重正常儿童(P<0.01),且超重、肥胖和体重正常儿童高血压检出率分别为10.55%、39.95%和4.85%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);当儿童BMI<30时,BMI与肺活量呈正相关,当BMI≥30时,BMI与肺活量呈负相关。 结论张家口市卫华小学儿童超重、肥胖流行趋势显著,男童更为突出;随着肥胖程度的增加,儿童的收缩压和舒张压水平呈现上升趋势,高血压检出率增加;当儿童BMI≥30时,肥胖已影响肺功能。提示儿童超重、肥胖使心、肺功能降低,预防和控制儿童肥胖刻不容缓。     

Overweight and obesity in children from Shenzhen, Peoples Republic of China

We describe overweight and obesity prevalence in Shenzhen school children (2146 girls and 2428 boys) aged 7 to 12 years, Guangdong Province, China. Nineteen percent of boys and 11% of girls were overweight or obese. Boys had odds of almost 2 to 1 (1.92, 95% CI 1.62,2.27) of being overweight or obese compared to girls and children aged 9 years and over were at greater odds of being overweight or obese than those aged 7 years (p<0.05). Overweight and obesity prevalence among children from Shenzhen rivals that of children from developed nations. Current obesity levels in Shenzhen may represent future levels for urban China.     

A comparison of self-reported and measured height,weight and BMI in Australian adolescents

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between self-reported weight and height to actual weight and height in older Australian adolescents. METHOD: Weights and heights of 572 adolescents aged 15-19 years who participated in the 1995 Australian National Health Survey (NHS) and National Nutrition Survey (NNS) were examined. RESULTS: Self-reported heights were significantly higher than measured heights in participants. There were no differences in the accuracy of self-reported heights among the adolescents by gender. Self-reported weights were significantly lower than measured weights among both boys and girls (p < 0.01). There were no differences in the accuracy of self-reported weights among the boys and girls. Differences between actual weight and self-reported weight were significantly greater for overweight or obese adolescents compared with normal/underweight adolescents (p < 0.01). The use of self-reported weight and height resulted in the correct classification of overweight or obesity in 69% boys and 70% of girls. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant gender difference in reporting weight and height in older adolescents. Bias in reporting weight and height was much higher in overweight or obese adolescents than normal/underweight adolescents. IMPLICATIONS: The percentage of misclassification of overweight or obesity from self-reported data in this study was 31% for boys and 30% for girls, respectively. Therefore, the self-reported weight and height of older adolescents needs to be more cautiously utilised. Efforts to improve the accuracy of self-reporting in older adolescents are needed if this measure is to be reliable.     

Overweight and Obesity Among School Children in Jordan: Prevalence and Associated Factors

Objectives To estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity and determine their associated factors among school children aged 6–12 years in the north of Jordan. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among school children in the north of Jordan in the period between March 2006 and May 2006. A total of 2,131 children (1,052 boys and 1,079 girls) were selected at random using multistage cluster sampling method. The first part of the questionnaire was completed by pupils in schools and the second part was completed by their parents at home. The researchers measured height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, and mid upper arm circumference of each student in the class. Overweight and obesity were defined according to the international cut-off points of body mass index for boys and girls between 2 and 18 years of age. Results Of the total 2,131 children, 19.4% were overweight (18.8% of boys and 19.9% of girls) and 5.6% were obese (5.6% of boys and 5.5% of girls). Watching television >2 h/day, daily pocket money >20 piasters (1 piaster = 1.42 cents), having overweight or obese mother/father were significantly associated with increased odds of both overweight and obesity. Age ≥ 10 years, female gender, and family size of ≤4 were significantly associated with being overweight and total monthly family income >300 Jordanian Dinars (JDs), (1 JD = $1.42) was associated with obesity. Conclusions While the prevalence of overweight was high among Jordanian children compared with that in the neighboring countries, the prevalence of obesity was lower.     

Obesity among pre-adolescent and adolescents of a developing country (India)

There are very few reports from the developing world on the prevalence of obesity among children even though in developed countries it has reached epidemic proportions. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity in pre-adolescent and adolescent children in a developing country (India) using WHO guidelines for defining obesity and overweight. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 2008 school-children aged 9-15 years. Approximately half the subjects belonged to a school attended by children of well to do families while the rest belonged to two schools from middle and lower socio-economic background. Weight and height were taken for all children and the body mass index (BMI) calculated. Children whose BMI was >85th percentile for age and sex were defined as overweight. Triceps skin fold thickness (TSFT) was measured for all overweight children and those with TSFT >90th percentile for age and sex were defined as obese. The overall prevalence of obesity and overweight was 11.1% and 14.2% respectively. The prevalence of obesity as well as overweight was higher in boys as compared to girls (12.4% vs 9.9%, 15.7% vs 12.9%). Prevalence of obesity decreased significantly with age, from 18.5% at 9 years to 7.6% at 14 years, rising at 15 years to 12.1%. Significantly more children from higher socio-economic status were obese and overweight than those from lower socio-economic status groups. No significant gender difference for obesity prevalence was seen among children from a less privileged background, however, amongst children from affluent families, significantly more boys were obese as compared to girls. Pediatric obesity is an emerging problem in developing countries, especially among higher socio-economic status groups. Significant gender disparity is seen, with boys of affluent background having a higher prevalence.     

Skipping breakfast among Australian children and adolescents; findings from the 2011–12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey

Objective : Skipping breakfast has been linked with poor diet quality, higher BMI and adverse cardiometabolic outcomes. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of skipping breakfast among Australian children and adolescents. Methods : A total of 1,592 2–17‐year‐olds completed two 24‐hour recalls, collected via face‐to‐face and telephone interview, in the 2011–12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. Breakfast was an eating occasion of ≥210kJ named as ‘breakfast’ by the participant. Child, household and adult correlates of skipping breakfast were reported. Odds ratios were calculated using ordinal regression. Linear regression was used to examine differences in dietary intake. Survey weights were applied to give nationally representative estimates. Results : Most (86.8% of boys, 81.4% of girls) ate breakfast on both days, 11.8% of boys and 14.8% girls skipped on one day and 1.4% boys and 3.8% girls skipped on both days. Characteristics associated with skipping breakfast were being female, being older, being underweight or overweight/obese, poorer diet, lower physical activity, inadequate sleep, lower household income, greater socioeconomic disadvantage, and being from a single‐parent home. Conclusion : Skipping breakfast was common among Australian adolescents but few consistently skipped. Implications for public health : Interventions to increase breakfast should target adolescents, particularly girls, and low SEP households.     

Gender, ethnicity, culture and social class influences on childhood obesity among Australian schoolchildren: implications for treatment, prevention and community education

The aim of the study was to explore the associations between obesity, weight perceptions and gender, ethnicity, culture and social class in a large national study of Australian school children. Primary and high schools (N = 47) were recruited from every state and territory of Australia and included 7889 children from government, private and Catholic schools (82% response rate) in August-November, 2006. The socioeconomic status (SES) of schools was based on a government survey of total family income. A questionnaire completed by students, measured demographic details of gender, age, weight perceptions and ethnic/cultural background. Height and weight were measured by trained research assistants. Outcome measures included body mass index (BMI), prevalence of obesity, overweight, weight perceptions. Prevalence of obesity was 6.4% of males and 5.6% of females in primary school students (P = 0.34). More high school males were obese than females (7.7% vs. 5.7%, P = 0.001). Obesity was more prevalent among students from Pacific Islander backgrounds. Adolescents who were most likely to be obese were boys and girls of low SES or Pacific Islander or Middle Eastern/Arabic background. The least likely to be obese were Anglo/Caucasian or Asian students and in particular, the girls. Obese female adolescents from Aboriginal, Middle Eastern/Arabic and Pacific Islander backgrounds were less likely than their Caucasian or Asian peers to perceive themselves as 'too fat'.Those working in clinical, community or educational settings with young people and in particular, obese young people, should be aware that obesity is likely to be more prevalent, more culturally acceptable and perhaps more desirable among children and teens from low SES communities and/or Middle Eastern and Pacific Islander backgrounds. Health and social work professionals should be careful not to exaggerate the risks of overweight or obesity or inadvertently create weight concerns among young people. The different body image perceptions identified in this study should be taken into account when planning clinical, community or preventive initiatives among children or adolescents from varying ethnic groups.     

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Irish school children, using four different definitions

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Irish children using four different weight-for-height methods and to examine secular trends from previous national data. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. Weight and height were measured according to standard procedures and used to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity using four weight-for-height methods of assessment, actual relative weight, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention body mass index (BMI) for age charts for boys and girls, the BMI reference curves for the UK 1990 and the International Obesity Task Force age- and sex-specific BMI cutoffs. SETTING: The survey was carried out between 2003 and 2004 in the Republic of Ireland. SUBJECTS: Random representative sample of 596 children aged 5-12 years. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Irish children is high, but varies considerably with each method. The prevalence of obesity in boys ranged from 4.1 to 11.2 % and in girls from 9.3 to 16.3%. Between 1990 and 2005, depending on the method used, there was a two-to-fourfold increase in obesity in children aged 8-12 years. CONCLUSION: It is evident given the variation displayed in the prevalence of obesity when using the different methods, that there is a discernible need for a single definition to identify the obese child in Ireland. The findings show a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in Irish school children and the increase in the prevalence of obesity over the last 15 years highlights this growing public health issue.     

Impact of objective and subjective social status on obesity in a biracial cohort of adolescents

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the associations between socioeconomic status (SES), two levels of subjective social status (SSS), and adolescent obesity. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Cross-sectional study of 1491 black and white adolescents attending public school in a suburban school district in Greater Cincinnati, Ohio. BMI > or =95th percentile derived from measured height and weight defined overweight. Students rated SSS on separate 10-point scales for society and school. A parent provided information on parent education and household income for SES. RESULTS: Although there were no sex differences in SES, black students were more likely to come from families with less well-educated parents and lower incomes (p < 0.001). Black girls had the lowest societal SSS (p = 0.003), lowest school SSS (p = 0.046), and highest BMI (p < 0.001). Prevalence of overweight was highest among black girls (26.0%) and boys (26.2%), intermediate for white boys (17.2%), and least for white girls (11.6%). Logistic regression modeling revealed that parent education, household income, and school SSS were each associated with overweight. In a fully adjusted model, school SSS retained its association to overweight (odds ratio, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06,1.26) independent of SES. The association of school SSS was strongest among white girls, intermediate for white and black boys, and absent for black girls. DISCUSSION: Perceptions of social stratification are independently associated with overweight. There were important racial and sex differences in the social status-overweight association. SSS in the more immediate, local reference group, the school, had the strongest association to overweight.     

Prevalence of overweight, obesity and thinness in 9-10 year old children in Mauritius

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE: To document the prevalence of overweight, obesity and thinness in 9-10 year old children in Mauritius. METHODS: 412 boys and 429 girls aged 9-10 years from 23 primary schools were selected using stratified cluster random sampling. All data was cross-sectional and collected via anthropometry and self-administered questionnaire. Outcome measures were BMI (kg/m2), prevalence of overweight, obesity (International Obesity Task Force definitions) and thinness (low BMI for age). Linear and logistic regression analyses, accounting for clustering at the school level, were used to assess associations between gender, ethnicity, school location, and school's academic performance (average) to each outcome measure. RESULTS: The distribution of BMI was marginally skewed with a more pronounced positive tail in the girls. Median BMI was 15.6 kg/m2 in boys and 15.4 kg/m2 in girls, respectively. In boys, prevalence of overweight was 15.8% (95% CI: 12.6, 19.6), prevalence of obesity 4.9% (95% CI: 3.2, 7.4) and prevalence of thinness 12.4% (95% CI: 9.5, 15.9). Among girls, 18.9% (95% CI: 15.5, 22.9) were overweight, 5.1% (95% CI: 3.4, 7.7) were obese and 13.1% (95% CI: 10.2, 16.6) were thin. Urban children had a slightly higher mean BMI than rural children (0.5 kg/m2, 95% CI: 0.01, 1.00) and were nearly twice as likely to be obese (6.7% vs. 4.0%; adjusted odds ratio 1.6; 95% CI: 0.9, 3.5). Creole children were less likely to be classified as thin compared to Indian children (adjusted odds ratio 0.3, 95% CI: 0.2, 0.6). CONCLUSION: Mauritius is currently in the midst of nutritional transition with both a high prevalence of overweight and thinness in children aged 9-10 years. The coexistence of children representing opposite sides of the energy balance equation presents a unique challenge for policy and interventions. Further exploration is needed to understand the specific causes of the double burden of malnutrition and to make appropriate policy recommendations.     

Comparison of anthropometry and parent-reported height and weight among nine year olds

BACKGROUND: There is mounting evidence that the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children is reaching epidemic proportions in North America. We compared parent-report vs. measured BMI overweight and obesity prevalence estimates among 9 year olds using the 1996 NLSCY reports published by Willms et al. (2003) and anthropometric measurements from a regional population of public school children. METHODS: Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for 1,497 9-year-old children (males N = 734; females N = 763) from 75 public schools in the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada. BMI from the 1996 NLSCY was based on parental reports of height and weight of 879 nine year olds. To define overweight and obese children, we used internationally accepted age- and gender-specific cut-offs as defined by Cole et al. (2000). RESULTS: The NLSCY overweight prevalence estimates of boys and girls may overestimate overweight boys and girls by 17% and 10%, respectively. Measured obesity prevalence estimates were similar to parent-reports. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that parental reports of height and weight may inflate prevalence estimates of overweight children, but appear reasonably accurate for estimating obesity. Since prevalence of overweight and obesity are often combined to form a global estimate, reliance on parent-reported height and weight may overstate the magnitude of the problem.     

Obesity and overweight prevalence in Polish 7- to 9-year-old children

OBJECTIVE: Secular trend in childhood obesity is a well-known phenomenon, and it is important to monitor it in cross-sectional studies. The study aim was to estimate prevalence of obesity and overweight in Polish 7- to 9-year-old children and to compare the results with a French study based on the same protocol. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The study was conducted in 2001 according to the protocol of the European Childhood Obesity Group. Height and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated to define nutritional status in a randomly selected group of 2916 (1445 girls and 1471 boys) primary school children. Obesity and overweight were estimated according to International Obesity Task Force references with curve for obesity and overweight passing through 30 and 25 kg/m(2) at age 18, respectively. RESULTS: Overweight (including obesity) was found in 15.4% of Polish children (in 15.8% of girls and 15.0% of boys) and obesity in 3.6% (3.7% of girls and 3.6% of boys) compared with 18.1% of overweight and 3.8% of obese children in French study. There was no significant difference in nutrition status between Polish and French children except for higher frequency of overweight in French 9-year-old boys. The same trend of decreasing overweight through age classes was observed in both populations. DISCUSSION: The prevalence of obesity and overweight (including obesity) in prepubertal children estimated in two European countries according to the same protocol and using the same references showed little differences between the two populations despite higher prevalence of obesity in Polish than French adults.     

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     

Obesity rates among rural Ontario schoolchildren

BACKGROUND: The majority of existing studies of obesity risk among Canadian children come from urban populations. The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of obesity in a sample of rural Ontario children. METHODS: Measures of height and weight were obtained for 504 children attending seven public elementary schools in Grey and Bruce Counties, a predominantly rural area of Southern Ontario. Body mass index (BMI, or weight/height2) scores were calculated and compared with reference data from the Centers for Disease Control. RESULTS: Rates of overweight and obesity were high in this sample, with 17.7% of children classified as overweight and 10.9% classified as obese. There was a significantly high prevalence of overweight for both boys (17.8%) and girls (17.5%) (Chi-square = 75.70, p < 0.001). However there was a significant gender difference in obesity prevalence: 15.0% of boys were obese, compared with 6.8% of girls (Mann-Whitney U = 29133.0, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that among rural children--particularly boys--risk of overweight and obesity are at least as high as in their urban Canadian counterparts. There appear to be fewer girls than boys at the extreme high end of the distribution of BMI, which may indicate differences in the growth environment of rural boys and girls.     

合肥市某中学超重、肥胖与不同性别初中学生心理健康水平的相关性

目的了解超重、肥胖与男女初中学生生活满意度、抑郁、焦虑、自我意识水平之间的相关性。方法对象为合肥市某中学1818名初一和初二学生,用多维学生生活满意度量表、流行病学调查中心用抑郁量表、特质焦虑量表和儿童自我意识量表及相应的评价标准进行心理健康评定,同时测量身高、体重,计算体重指数(BMI)值。参考中国儿童青少年超重和肥胖筛查BMI值分类标准进行分组,分析男女生及体重正常、超重、肥胖组学生心理健康状况的差异以及男女生BMI与4个量表评分的相关性。结果男生超重和肥胖检出率(21．5%和7．7%)显著高于女生(8．0%和2．8%)。体重正常组生活满意度评分的性别差异有统计学意义(P=0．002),超重组抑郁评分的性别差异有统计学意义(P=0．046)。在女生中,体重正常、超重和肥胖3组的抑郁、特质焦虑和自我意识评分的差异均有统计学意义(P＜0．05),肥胖组抑郁和焦虑评分显著高于体重正常组(P=0．012和P=0．035),肥胖组自我意识评分低于体重正常组(P=0．014),超重组抑郁评分高于体重正常组(P=0．025)。结论超重、肥胖检出率女生低于男生,但女生超重和肥胖者心理健康水平与体重正常者的差别较男生明显。     

父母肥胖对儿童期肥胖的影响

目的：探讨父母肥胖对儿童期肥胖的影响。方法：以北京市近万名6－8岁儿童为调查对象，测量其身高、体重，并发放调查问卷以获得父母的身高与体重。以体重超过身高标准值的120％为标准筛选出肥胖儿童，以BMI超过25或28kg/m^2为标准筛选出超重或肥胖家长。结果：当父亲正常、超重及肥胖时儿童肥胖率分别为12．3％，20．0％和25．0％，当母亲正常、超重及肥胖时儿童肥胖率分别为13．8％，26．5％和30．0％，各组的肥胖率之间差别显。父母均正常的儿童肥胖发生率为11．1％，而父母均超重或肥胖的儿童肥胖率则上升至33．6％。儿童BMI与父亲和母亲BMI均明显相关，相关系数分别为0．195和0．214。结论：父母肥胖是儿童肥胖的重要危险因素，父母肥胖的儿童应成为预防肥胖的重点人群。     

Obesity and socioeconomic status in children of Tijuana

BACKGROUND: Although obesity has been associated with socioeconomic status among Hispanics living in the United States, little is known about whether a similar association exists among Hispanics living in Mexico, particularly among those living along the U.S.-Mexico border. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of obesity and its association with socioeconomic status in Mexican schoolchildren attending public and private schools in Tijuana, Baja California. METHODS: Anthropometric measurements and socioeconomic status were assessed in a cross-sectional study of 1172 school children, aged 6 to 13 years from 55 schools in Tijuana in 2001-2002. Underweight (body mass index [BMI] for age 5th percentile or lower), risk of overweight (BMI at 85th percentile or higher), and overweight (BMI greater than 95th percentile) were assessed using charts published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RESULTS: Abnormalities in weight were found in 46.3% of 587 boys and 43.7% of 585 girls in the study. Undernutrition was found in 3.7% of the boys and 3.8% of the girls. The general prevalence of overweight was 23.2% for boys and 21.7% for girls. Children living in low-income neighborhoods had the thickest biceps skinfolds (p<0.01), while children living in moderate-income neighborhoods and attending public schools had the thickest triceps skinfolds (p<0.001). Although boys living in high socioeconomic status neighborhoods were at decreased risk for being overweight, boys and girls attending private schools had a 75% increased risk (odds ratio, 1.75; confidence interval, 1.22-2.52) of being overweight than children attending public schools. CONCLUSIONS: Adiposity varies by type of school and neighborhood socioeconomic status. The biphasic curve in risk for being overweight associated with neighborhood socioeconomic status suggests that Mexican children living along the U.S. border may be experiencing a nutrition transition with respect to an increased risk of obesity and related chronic disease.