Increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among children in Vilnius, Lithuania: comparison of two longitudinal data sets of children born in 1990 and 1996.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess changes in prevalence of overweight and obesity among children born in 1996 and 1990 in Vilnius city. The results were based on comparison of two longitudinal data sets (N = 624 and N = 389) collected from the personal health records of children born in 1996 and 1990 respectively. No statistically significant differences in final height and BMI were established between children born in 1990 and 1996; however, both boys and girls born in 1996 appeared to be higher and heavier at different ages compared to their peers born in 1990. After controlling for tempo, the differences in height between the two cohorts have become insignificant for girls, with exceptions at the age of 3 and 10 years; for boys, the differences between the cohorts have remained significant, however at a slightly lower level. More children born in 1996 tended to be overweight and obese. In six years, the prevalence of overweight in Vilnius children has more than doubled; the prevalence of obesity has increased up to five times in some age groups.