Prevalence of Overweight, Obesity, Abdominal Obesity, and Obesity-Related Risk Factors in Polish Preschool Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Piotr Matłosz,Muhammad Aslam,Justyna Wyszyńska,Muhammad Asif,Agnieszka Szybisty,Artur Mazur,Jarosław Herbert

doi:10.3390/jcm10040790

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of overweight, obesity, abdominal obesity (AO), and obesity-related risk factors in children aged 5–6 years from Poland. The study was conducted at 22 randomly selected kindergartens representing each city district. A cross-sectional study of 1172 children aged 5–6 years was conducted using questionnaire forms and physical measurements. The physical measurements included body height, weight, waist circumference (WC), and body fat percentage (BFP). A univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to evaluate the risk factors for excess weight, excess adiposity, and abdominal obesity (AO). The prevalence of excess weight (BMI ≥ 85th percentile) was 11.0%. The prevalence of excess adiposity (BFP ≥ 85th percentile) was 42.3%. Prevalence of AO (WC ≥ 90th percentile) was higher in girls compared to boys (14.9% vs. 10.7%, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that children whose both parents were obese had significantly higher risk of excess weight, excess adiposity, and AO. Lower education level of fathers was associated with higher risk of excess weight and excess adiposity in children, while a lower level of maternal education was associated with higher risk of AO in children. Screen time over 120 min per day, participating less than once a week in at least 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and birth weight over 4000 g were associated with excess weight, excess adiposity and AO. Moreover, cesarean delivery was associated with higher risk of excess weight and excess adiposity, and lower socio-economic status with higher risk of AO. This study revealed that excess adiposity and AO differed by gender. Parental obesity, screen time, MVPA, and birth weight could be significant determinants of excess weight, excess adiposity and AO in Polish preschool children.

Highlights

Higher prevalence of unhealthy body mass was observed, while overfat and obesity were defined according to body fat percentage (BFP) (22.4% and 19.9%, respectively)
There was a non-significant tendency regarding the prevalence of overweight and obesity, defined according to body mass index (BMI), in both gender
Our findings suggest that children from families of obese parents were significantly more likely to be classified with excess weight, excess adiposity, and abdominal obesity (AO), than children of parents with normal body weight

Summary

Introduction

Increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity and overweight is a general public health concern. Over 38 million children under five years of age are estimated to have overweight or obesity [1]. It has been shown that early childhood obesity track into adulthood [2]. This have important public health consequences since excess body mass is associated among others with increased risk for non-communicable diseases like type

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