BACKGROUND/AIMS: A rising prevalence of childhood obesity (assessed by body mass index) has been observed in China. However, there are very few published data on abdominal obesity among children and adolescents. The present study examined the prevalence and regional disparities in abdominal obesity among children and adolescents in Shandong, China. METHODS: Data for this study were obtained from a large cross-sectional survey. A total of 42,296 students (21,218 boys and 21,078 girls) aged 7-18 years from 16 districts participated in this study. Height and waist circumference (WC) of all subjects were measured; waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was calculated from their height and WC. Abdominal obesity was defined as WHtR ≥0.5. All subjects were stratified by gender, age and the area of residence, and abdominal obesity frequencies were compared among different groups. RESULTS: Substantial regional, socioeconomic and urban/rural disparities exist in child and adolescent abdominal obesity. The overall prevalences of abdominal obesity among different groups of children and adolescents aged 7-18 years were 19.92% (urban boys), 11.94% (rural boys), 8.43% (urban girls) and 5.85% (rural girls). The prevalence of abdominal obesity varied from 24.98% in high-socioeconomic status (SES) urban boys to 4.58% in low-SES rural girls. Subjects living in coastal and high-urbanization districts had a higher prevalence of abdominal obesity than those living in inland and low-urbanization districts. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal obesity among children and adolescents in China is associated with affluence and urban residence. Interventions and strategies to combat obesity should be based on this specific context, targeting high-SES urban areas.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: A rising prevalence of childhood obesity (assessed by body mass index) has been observed in China. However, there are very few published data on abdominal obesity among children and adolescents. The present study examined the prevalence and regional disparities in abdominal obesity among children and adolescents in Shandong, China. METHODS: Data for this study were obtained from a large cross-sectional survey. A total of 42,296 students (21,218 boys and 21,078 girls) aged 7-18 years from 16 districts participated in this study. Height and waist circumference (WC) of all subjects were measured; waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was calculated from their height and WC. Abdominal obesity was defined as WHtR ≥0.5. All subjects were stratified by gender, age and the area of residence, and abdominal obesity frequencies were compared among different groups. RESULTS: Substantial regional, socioeconomic and urban/rural disparities exist in child and adolescent abdominal obesity. The overall prevalences of abdominal obesity among different groups of children and adolescents aged 7-18 years were 19.92% (urban boys), 11.94% (rural boys), 8.43% (urban girls) and 5.85% (rural girls). The prevalence of abdominal obesity varied from 24.98% in high-socioeconomic status (SES) urban boys to 4.58% in low-SES rural girls. Subjects living in coastal and high-urbanization districts had a higher prevalence of abdominal obesity than those living in inland and low-urbanization districts. CONCLUSIONS:Abdominal obesity among children and adolescents in China is associated with affluence and urban residence. Interventions and strategies to combat obesity should be based on this specific context, targeting high-SES urban areas.