Obesity and thinness prevalence trends in Spanish schoolchildren: are they two convergent epidemics?

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 1019-1025
Author(s):  
Miriam Garrido-Miguel ◽  
Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno ◽  
Ángel Herráiz-Adillo ◽  
Jose Alberto Martínez-Hortelano ◽  
Alba Soriano-Cano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Task Force ◽  
International Obesity Task Force ◽  
Fat Percentage ◽  
Upward Trend ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to analyse the secular trends in body composition variables and weight status among Spanish schoolchildren from 1992 to 2017, and to examine the persistence in the same weight status category from 2013 to 2017 of the birth cohort in 2007–08. Methods The data for the prevalence/trend analysis were taken from cross-sectional analyses conducted in 1992 (n = 308), 1996 (n = 307), 1998 (n = 275), 2004 (n = 1119), 2010 (n = 912), 2013 (n = 352) and 2017 (n = 275) using similar procedure methods among schoolchildren (aged 4–6 y and 8–11 years) from 22 public schools in the province of Cuenca, Spain. The data for the longitudinal analysis were obtained from cross-sectional analyses of measurements gathered in 2013 and 2017 in the same cohort of children (n = 275) born in 2007 and 2008. Weight, height, body fat percentage (by electronic bioimpedance) and waist circumference were measured by trained personnel. Weight status was defined according to the BMI cut-offs proposed by the International obesity task force (IOTF) criteria. Results In schoolchildren, the overall prevalence of thinness increased from 5.9% in 1992 to 14.5% in 2017, P < 0.001. Whereas, the overall prevalence of obesity/overweight remained relatively steady between the same time period (from 25.2% to 26.9%), P = 0.599. In relation to the longitudinal analyses, we observed that 70.9% of schoolchildren in 2017 remained in the same weight status category as in 2013. Conclusions The child obesity epidemic in Spain has remained relatively stable over the last two decades. However, the prevalence of thinness shows a worrying upward trend.

scholarly journals Trends in the prevalence of overweight, obesity and underweight in French children, aged 4–12 years, from 2013 to 2017

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (14) ◽  
pp. 2478-2484
Author(s):  
Jérémy Vanhelst ◽  
Jean-Benoît Baudelet ◽  
David Thivel ◽  
Hervé Ovigneur ◽  
Thibault Deschamps
Keyword(s):  
Task Force ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
International Obesity Task Force ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity ◽  
Physical Measures ◽  
Age And Sex

AbstractObjective:To assess the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in French children from 2013 to 2017.Design:Cross-sectional study performed in fourteen regions of France. Physical measures included weight, height and BMI. Underweight, overweight and obesity were defined according to age- and sex-specific BMI cut-off points from the International Obesity Task Force.Setting:France.Subjects:Children (10 159 boys, 9757 girls) from the voluntary, non-representative Diagnoform programme between 2013 and 2017, at the age of 4–12 years.Results:The prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher in girls compared with boys (P < 0·001). Underweight was also more prevalent in girls (P < 0·05). Although there were no significant changes in the prevalence of obesity in boys or girls from 2013 to 2017, a significant decrease in overweight among boys and girls was found (P < 0·001) during the same time period. In contrast, the prevalence of underweight increased in girls and boys (from 10·0 to 20·0 %, P < 0·0001) between 2013 and 2017.Conclusions:Results of the current study show that the prevalence of obesity was stable, while the prevalence of overweight decreased significantly, despite high in French children. Findings suggest also that thinness is becoming an important phenomenon in children. Developing preventive and nutritional programmes in order to modify the lifestyle might help control underweight and obesity in children.

scholarly journals Prevalence of overweight, obesity, underweight and normal weight in French youth from 2009 to 2013

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 959-964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jérémy Vanhelst ◽  
Jean-Benoît Baudelet ◽  
Paul S Fardy ◽  
Laurent Béghin ◽  
Jacques Mikulovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
International Obesity Task Force ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in French youth from 2009 to 2013 and to determine if there are differences in weight categories according to socio-economic status.DesignCross-sectional study performed in different regions of France. Physical measures included weight, height and BMI. Underweight, overweight and obesity were defined according to age- and sex-specific BMI cut-off points from the International Obesity Task Force.SettingFrance.SubjectsChildren and adolescents (n 9670; 4836 boys, 4834 girls) from the French national BOUGE Program between 2009 and 2013.ResultsThe prevalence of obesity was higher in boys than girls (P<0·05). In contrast, underweight was more prevalent in girls (P<0·05). Although there were no significant changes in overweight or underweight boys or girls from 2009 to 2013, there was a significant increase in obesity in boys and girls (P<0·05) during the same time period. The prevalence of underweight increased in girls from 12·0 to 16·7 % (P >0·05) and remained unchanged in boys (7·1–7·3 %) between 2009 and 2013. Overweight and obesity were higher in low socio-economic families (P<0·0001).ConclusionsFindings suggest that the prevalence of overweight was stable although high in French children and adolescents, while the prevalence of obesity increased significantly. Changes in underweight, although not significant, were high in girls and merit further attention. Improving public health interventions, especially in high-risk low socio-economic populations, may help to modify the behaviour that contributes to underweight, overweight and obesity in young boys and girls.

scholarly journals Thinness, overweight and obesity in indigenous youth in Oaxaca, 1970 and 2007

2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M Malina ◽  
María Eugenia Peña-Reyes ◽  
Guillermo Bali-Chávez ◽  
Bertis B Little
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
School Children ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
International Obesity Task Force ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Indigenous Youth

Objective. To evaluate change in body mass index (BMI) and weight status of indigenous youth in Oaxaca between the 1970s and 2007. Materials and methods. Heights and weights were measured in cross-sectional samples of school children 6-14 years in the 1970s (2 897) and 2007 (4 305); BMI was calculated. International Obesity Task Force cutoffs for weight status were used. BMI and prevalence of severe and moderate thinness, overweight and obesity were compared by year. Results. BMI increased significantly across time. Primary change in weight status occurred in overweight, 1970s, <2%; 2007, 7 to 12%. Little change occurred in thinness (<2%) and obesity (≤1%) in both surveys, except in children 6-9 years (obesity=4% in 2007). Conclusion. BMI and prevalence of overweight increased across all ages from the 1970s to 2007, but children 6-9 years appeared to be more at risk for obesity than youth 10-14 years. Prevalence of thinness was unchanged.

scholarly journals Accuracy of anthropometric measurements and weight status perceptions reported by parents of 4-year-old children

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-598
Author(s):  
María D Esteban-Vasallo ◽  
Ignacio Galán ◽  
Maira A Ortiz-Pinto ◽  
Amelia Astray San Martín ◽  
Eva M Cabrero López ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Who Classification ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Weight Perception ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sentinel Network ◽  
Child Weight ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity ◽  
Child’S Weight

AbstractObjective:To assess the validity of self-reported height and weight by parents of 4-year-old children and subjective weight perception.Design:Descriptive cross-sectional study.Setting:Paediatric population living in the Autonomous Community of Madrid.Participants:Children born in 2008–2009 examined at 47–59 months of age. Data were collected by paediatricians of the Madrid Primary Care Physicians Sentinel Network. Parents reported weight and height data. Prevalence of weight status categories was calculated using WHO and International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) reference criteria. Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) were estimated. The appraisal of their child’s weight perception and parental misperception were assessed.Results:For 2914 children, reported height was underestimated by −1·38 cm, weight by −0·25 kg and BMI was overestimated by +0·41 kg/m2 on average. The prevalence of obesity estimated with reported data was 2·7 times higher than that calculated with measured data (16·2 v. 6·0 %) according to WHO classification, and 3·6 times higher with IOTF classification. Sensitivity to identify obesity was 70·5 %, specificity was 87·3 % and PPV was 26·2 % (WHO classification). Half of the parents of pre-schoolers with obesity failed to identify their child’s weight status. Parental misperception among children classified as having overweight or obesity reached 93·0 and 58·8 %, respectively.Conclusions:Parents underestimated children’s height and weight, leading to an overestimation of the prevalence of obesity. Small inaccuracies in reported measures have an important effect for the estimation of population prevalences. Parents’ report of child weight status is unreliable. Parental awareness and acknowledgement of child weight status should be improved.

Changes in Health Behaviors Associated With Weight Gain by Weight Classification During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 089011712110229
Author(s):  
Kristie Rupp ◽  
Ciarán P. Friel
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Caloric Intake ◽  
Healthy Weight ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Online Panels

Purpose: To determine whether perceived changes (i.e. perception of engagement during the pandemic relative to pre-pandemic) in specific health behaviors differ by weight status (i.e. healthy weight, overweight, obese). Design: Cross-sectional. Recruitment took place between June-August 2020, via social media posts and Qualtrics online panels. Setting: Participants completed the survey online through the Qualtrics platform. Sample: Analyses included N = 502 participants (≥18 years); 45.2% healthy weight (n = 227), 28.5% overweight (n = 143), and 26.3% obese (n = 132). Measures: Study-specific survey items included questions about demographics and perceived changes in health behaviors. Analysis: Logistic regression models, adjusted for age, race, ethnicity, gender, education, and COVID-19 diagnosis, assessed the odds of perceiving changes in health behaviors considered a risk for weight gain. Results: Participants with obesity, but not overweight, were significantly more likely to report deleterious changes to health behaviors compared to healthy weight peers, including: (1) decreased fruit/vegetable consumption [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.92; 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.13, 3.26)]; (2) increased processed food consumption [AOR = 1.85; 95%CI: (1.15, 3.00)]; (3) increased caloric intake [AOR = 1.66; 95% CI: (1.06, 2.61)]; (4) decreased physical activity [AOR = 2.07; 95%CI: (1.31, 3.28)]; and (5) deterioration in sleep quality [AOR = 2.07; 95%CI: (1.32, 3.25)]. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that adults with obesity may be at greater risk for unhealthy behaviors during a period of prolonged social distancing, potentially exacerbating the obesity epidemic.

scholarly journals Overweight and obesity of children in a brazilian elementary school: a comparison of three references

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 341
Author(s):  
Marcella Evangelista Melo ◽  
Giovanna Lima Miguéis ◽  
Mikaela Silva Almeida ◽  
Tatiane Dalamaria ◽  
Wagner De Jesus Pinto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
World Health ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Kappa Index ◽  
International Obesity Task Force ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Organization

Introduction: In the diagnosis of overweight and obesity based on body mass index in children and adolescents, several national and international anthropometric references are recommended. However, there is a divergence in the estimated prevalence of overweight and obesity among the references. Objective: To identify the prevalence of overweight and obesity and to analyse the magnitude of agreement among the three references. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 975 students from the early grades of elementary school. The prevalence of overweight and obesity were estimated according to the criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and Conde and Monteiro. The Kappa weighted index was calculated to assess the agreement magnitude among the three references. Results: The highest prevalence of overweight and obesity was estimated by the Conde and Monteiro and WHO references, respectively. Overall, the IOTF revealed lower a magnitude of prevalence than the two other references. The agreement among the references identified by the Kappa index had a range of 0.66 to 0.94. Conclusion: Despite the satisfactory agreement among the three references, this research highlighted the differing magnitudes of the prevalence of overweight and obesity. This fact limits the ability to make comparisons among populations and impairs the development of overweight and obesity prevention actions.

Comparison of different BMI cut-offs to screen for child and adolescent obesity in urban China

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (14) ◽  
pp. 2485-2493
Author(s):  
Kun Qian ◽  
Linglin Tan ◽  
Shijian Li ◽  
Ziang Li ◽  
Feng Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Task Force ◽  
Bioelectrical Impedance ◽  
Impedance Analysis ◽  
Child And Adolescent ◽  
Adolescent Obesity ◽  
Urban China ◽  
Fat Percentage ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Community Healthcare

AbstractObjectives:To determine which set of BMI cut-offs is the most appropriate to define child and adolescent obesity in urban China.Design:A cross-sectional study was carried out between 1 November and 31 December in 2017.Setting:Community Healthcare Center in Minhang District, Shanghai, China.Participants:A total of 12 426 children and adolescents aged 7–17 years were selected by cluster random sampling. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was the gold standard to measure body composition.Results:Comparisons of three sets of BMI cut-offs by sensitivity and κ value revealed that the Working Group on Obesity in China (WGOC) (sensitivity 39·9–84·0 %; κ 0·51–0·79) and WHO (sensitivity 25·5–74·5 %; κ 0·35–0·78) cut-offs were not superior to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) (sensitivity 47·9–92·4 %; κ 0·58–0·85) cut-offs across all subgroups. The WGOC and WHO cut-offs yielded higher misclassification rates, in the worst case, categorising 11·2 % of girls with high adiposity as normal and 44·4 % of them as overweight, while the IOTF cut-offs categorised 2·3 % as normal and 30·7 % as overweight. Individuals who were classified by the IOTF cut-offs as overweight had the lowest ratios of high adiposity (4·2–41·6 %) than by the BMI cut-offs for each subgroup. Among pubertal girls, none of the BMI-based cut-offs indicated excellent agreement with body fat percentage, and κ value of the WHO cut-offs (0·35 (95 % CI 0·29, 0·41)) was lower than the other two sets of BMI cut-offs (all P < 0·001).Conclusions:The IOTF cut-offs for Asian should be recommended for child obesity screening in urban China. Pubertal individuals need a more accurate indicator of obesity screening.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Obesity and Physical Activity of Children in the Spotlight of Their Parents’ Excessive Body Weight

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (23) ◽  
pp. 8737
Author(s):  
Erik Sigmund ◽  
Dagmar Sigmundová
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽  
Cumulative Effect ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Regular School ◽  
Body Weight Status ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity

Background: The study reveals the relationships between daily physical activity (PA) and the prevalence of obesity in family members separated according to the participation of their offspring in organized leisure-time physical activity (OLTPA), and answers the question of whether the participation of children in OLTPA is associated with a lower prevalence of obesity in offspring with respect to parental PA and body weight level. Methods: The cross-sectional study included 1493 parent-child dyads (915/578 mother/father-child aged 4–16 years) from Czechia selected by two-stage stratified random sampling with complete data on body weight status and weekly PA gathered over a regular school week between 2013 and 2019. Results: The children who participated in OLTPA ≥ three times a week had a significantly lower (p < 0.005) prevalence of obesity than the children without participation in OLTPA (5.0% vs. 11.1%). Even in the case of overweight/obese mothers/fathers, the children with OLTPA ≥ three times a week had a significantly lower (p < 0.002) prevalence of obesity than the children without OLTPA (6.7%/4.2% vs. 14.9%/10.7%). Conclusions: The cumulative effect of regular participation in OLTPA and a child’s own PA is a stronger alleviator of children’s obesity than their parents’ risk of overweight/obesity.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among Primary School Children Aged 8–13 Years in Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismail N. Pangani ◽  
Festus K. Kiplamai ◽  
Jane W. Kamau ◽  
Vincent O. Onywera
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Primary School ◽  
School Children ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Dar Es Salaam ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background. The understanding of obesity as a growing health problem in Africa and Tanzania in particular is hampered by lack of data as well as sociocultural beliefs in which overweight and obesity are revered. This study sought to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among primary school children aged 8–13 years in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Method. A cross-sectional analytical research design was used to study overweight and obesity in primary schools in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The target population was 150,000 children aged 8–13 years. Stratified random sampling was used to select 1781 children. Weight and height were taken and WHO standards for children were used to determine weight status.Results. Findings showed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 15.9% and 6.7%, respectively (N=1781). However, 6.2% of the children were underweight. There were significant differences in mean BMI between children in private and public schools (p=0.021), between male and female (p<0.001), and across age groups of 8–10 and 11–13 years (p<0.001).Conclusion. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among primary school children is significant and requires management and prevention strategies.

scholarly journals Large heterogeneity of the obesity epidemic in Danish adults

2004 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berit L Heitmann ◽  
Ulla Strøger ◽  
Kim L Mikkelsen ◽  
Claus Holst ◽  
Thorkild IA Sørensen
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Secular Change ◽  
Obesity Prevalence ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Linear Change ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
Increasing Trend ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity

AbstractObjective:To examine to what extent the obesity epidemic is a general phenomenon in adults by assessing the secular change, by birth cohort and age, in the prevalence of obesity and median body mass index (BMI) in Danish men and women measured between 1964 and 1994.Design:Multiple cross-sectional population surveys.Setting:The greater Copenhagen area of Denmark.Subjects:The study included 17 065 men (30 336 observations) and 13 417 women (24 065 observations), aged 20–84 years.Main outcome measures:Trends in median BMI and prevalence of obesity estimated from measured height and weight in 10-year age groups.Results:In general the prevalence of obesity was increasing, although in an irregular way: among men in two phases, during the 1970s and 1990s and among women only during the 1990s. Great heterogeneity was observed between birth cohorts and age groups. There was only little indication of an increasing trend in obesity prevalence for women, except for the 55–64-year-olds. In men, the prevalence of obesity was increasing in all age groups except in the youngest ones, and it was statistically significant only for men aged 35–74 years. There was no significant linear change in median BMI in any group, except for an increasing trend among men aged 50 years and above.Conclusion:Although the overall Danish trend for obesity prevalence, similar to trends world-wide, showed a marked increase, the trend was very heterogeneous and generally neither uniform nor significantly positive; the changes were irregular, different among men and women, and different in the different age and birth cohorts. The obesity problem in middle-aged and older men of certain birth cohorts poses a specific public health challenge. Future studies of determinants behind the heterogeneity in the development of the obesity epidemic may provide clues to its causes.

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