Abstract
BackgroundDue to the negative health consequences of childhood obesity monitoring trends in body mass and adiposity is essential. The purpose of this study was to describe secular trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among 9-year-old children, and to study changes in adiposity and fat distribution by investigating changes in waist circumference (WC) and skinfold thicknesses.MethodsA total of 859 9-year-olds were included in two cross-sectional studies conducted in 1999-2000 and 2005. Measurements of body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2), WC and skinfold thicknesses were taken by trained investigators. The International Obesity Task Force cut-offs were used to define overweight and obese subjects.ResultsThe overall prevalence of overweight (including obesity) did not change over the five year period. However, a shift may have occurred as the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) increased by 6.4% in girls and 5.5% in boys over the five year period. In both study periods, logistic regression analyses revealed that children of non-Western origin had 2 times higher odds of being overweight/obese than those of Western origin. However, neither the children of Western origin nor the children of non-Western origin showed a significant increase in the prevalence of overweight over the five-year period. No changes were observed for mean BMI, while a significant increase in WC was reported for both girls and boys, and an increase in all skinfold measurements was observed in girls only. Shifts in percentile distribution were observed for BMI, WC and sum of 4 skinfold thickness, however, the shift appeared to be faster in the upper end of the population distribution (p < 0.001 for interactions).ConclusionFrom 1999-2000 to 2005, there have been increases in 9-year-olds measures of adiposity even though the BMI did not change. The results indicate the need of a large-scale monitoring of adiposity, in addition to BMI, in children.
Highlights
Due to the negative health consequences of childhood obesity monitoring trends in body mass and adiposity is essential
In the United States, 35% of school-aged children are currently classified as overweight or obese [2], while the corresponding numbers are 23% in Australian 2-16-year-olds [3], between 27 and 36% in 7-11-years-olds in Mediterranean countries [4], 20% in 4-18-year-olds in the UK [5] and 15-20% in 814-year-olds in the Scandinavian countries [6,7]. These findings are based on body mass index (BMI), and genderand age-adjusted cut-offs developed by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) [8]
The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased by a total of 6.4% over the five year period, whereas the corresponding increase among boys was 5.5%
Summary
Due to the negative health consequences of childhood obesity monitoring trends in body mass and adiposity is essential. In the United States, 35% of school-aged children are currently classified as overweight or obese [2], while the corresponding numbers are 23% in Australian 2-16-year-olds [3], between 27 and 36% in 7-11-years-olds in Mediterranean countries [4], 20% in 4-18-year-olds in the UK [5] and 15-20% in 814-year-olds in the Scandinavian countries [6,7]. These findings are based on body mass index (BMI), and genderand age-adjusted cut-offs developed by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) [8]. Adverse concentrations of lipids and insulin have been shown to correlate well with abdominal obesity [12]
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