Prevalence and temporal trends of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Jilin, Northeast China, 2011-2015
Objective: In China, the obesity epidemic is truly national and childhood obesity prevalence has rapidly increased and is close to the developed countries. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and temporal trends of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Jilin City, China (2011-2015). Methods: The data derived from the census on students’ constitution and health in 2011-2015 carried out by the Jilin CDC, Jilin City. 191191 children and adolescents aged 7-18 years were included in the present survey, of which 37549 in 2011 to 41564 in the 2015. The newly developed age- and gender-specific BMI cutoffs by the working group on obesity in China were used to define overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. Results: The mean of BMI (body mass index) was significantly increasing from 20.9 kg/m2 in 2011 to 21.5 kg/m2 in 2015 in all subjects. Overweight and Obesity prevalence of total students aged 7-18 years had a significantly increasing from 2012 to 2015 (P<0.001), from 16.0% and 13.1% to 17.1% and 17.1%. The minimum value of BMI and overweight and obesity prevalence in overall age group all presented in 2012. Boys and girls all showed the significant increase in overweight and obesity prevalence in every age group from 2012 to 2015 and boys higher than girls (P<0.001). Regardless of girls and boys, the most likely of children and adolescents being overweight and obesity had been observed in the youngest age and lowest school grade category. Conclusion: In summary, our results indicate that all the overweight and obesity prevalence among children and adolescents over the past 5 years were higher than the 2010 Chinese National Level and Chinese large coastal cities’ level and a significantly increase from 2011-2015. Obesity epidemic is serious, at least not optimistic among children and adolescents in Jilin, Northeast China.