OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 2- to 6-year-old Italian children and to compare the prevalence between the north and the south of the country. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: This was a cross-sectional study of 2150 subjects (M/F: 1137/1013), 5.36 +/- 0.83 years of age. The sampling areas were Verona (north Italy) and Messina (south Italy). We used definitions of overweight and obesity using BMI values, with cut-off values proposed by the International Obesity Task Force. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight was 16.6% (males: 13.9%, females: 19.6%), and it was higher in the south (males: 17.8%, females: 22.4%) than in the north (males: 11.3%, females: 17.9%). The prevalence of obesity was 8.0% (males: 8.3%, females: 7.7%), and it was higher in the south (males: 12.3%, females: 10.7%) than in the north (males: 5.7%, females: 5.8%). Using the Centers for Disease Control reference charts, the prevalence of overweight and obesity of Italian children was close to that reported in children living in the United States (32% vs. 32.7%, respectively). DISCUSSION: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in young Italian children is very high, and it is rapidly growing. In the south of the country, the prevalence is higher than in the north.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 2- to 6-year-old Italian children and to compare the prevalence between the north and the south of the country. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: This was a cross-sectional study of 2150 subjects (M/F: 1137/1013), 5.36 +/- 0.83 years of age. The sampling areas were Verona (north Italy) and Messina (south Italy). We used definitions of overweight and obesity using BMI values, with cut-off values proposed by the International Obesity Task Force. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight was 16.6% (males: 13.9%, females: 19.6%), and it was higher in the south (males: 17.8%, females: 22.4%) than in the north (males: 11.3%, females: 17.9%). The prevalence of obesity was 8.0% (males: 8.3%, females: 7.7%), and it was higher in the south (males: 12.3%, females: 10.7%) than in the north (males: 5.7%, females: 5.8%). Using the Centers for Disease Control reference charts, the prevalence of overweight and obesity of Italian children was close to that reported in children living in the United States (32% vs. 32.7%, respectively). DISCUSSION: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in young Italian children is very high, and it is rapidly growing. In the south of the country, the prevalence is higher than in the north.
Authors: Paolo Brambilla; Giorgio Bedogni; Carmen Buongiovanni; Guido Brusoni; Giuseppe Di Mauro; Mario Di Pietro; Marco Giussani; Manuel Gnecchi; Lorenzo Iughetti; Paola Manzoni; Maura Sticco; Sergio Bernasconi Journal: Ital J Pediatr Date: 2010-08-17 Impact factor: 2.638
Authors: Tiziana Grassi; Antonella De Donno; Francesco Bagordo; Francesca Serio; Prisco Piscitelli; Elisabetta Ceretti; Claudia Zani; Gaia C V Viola; Milena Villarini; Massimo Moretti; Sara Levorato; Annalaura Carducci; Marco Verani; Gabriele Donzelli; Sara Bonetta; Silvia Bonetta; Elisabetta Carraro; Silvia Bonizzoni; Alberto Bonetti; Umberto Gelatti Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2016-10-11 Impact factor: 3.390