Maria Hassapidou1, Efstratia Daskalou1, Fotini Tsofliou2, Konstantinos Tziomalos3, Anastasia Paschaleri1, Ioannis Pagkalos4, Themistoklis Tzotzas5. 1. Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Sindos, Thessaloniki, Greece. 2. Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, Royal London House, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK. 3. First Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA, Thessaloniki, Greece. 4. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,Thessaloniki; Greece. 5. Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, "Agios Pavlos" Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Data on obesity in preschoolers are scarce in Greece, a country particularly affected by the obesity epidemic. The present study aimed to assess overweight and obesity prevalence of preschoolers in Thessaloniki, Greece, by using three different standards for defining childhood overweight and obesity. DESIGN: One thousand two hundred and fifty (1250) preschool children (657 boys and 593 girls) aged 2.0-6.0 years old from all public municipality kindergartens of Thessaloniki, Greece, participated in this cross-sectional survey conducted from 2009 to 2010.Body weight and height were measured and detailed anthropometry measurement was undertaken. BMI was classified to weight categories based on the CDC (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), IOTF (the International Obesity Task Force) and WHO (the World Health Organization) references. RESULTS: Rates of excess body weight varied significantly according to the different international criteria: IOTF: overweight (including obesity) 21.2%, obesity 5.8%;CDC: overweight (including obesity) 30.5%, obesity 13.5%; and WHO: overweight (including obesity) 32.6%, obesity 5%. Boys and older children were particularly affected. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight prevalence is high in Greek preschoolers and varies significantly according to the different criteria used, from 21.2% (IOTF reference) to 32.6% (CDC reference).
OBJECTIVE: Data on obesity in preschoolers are scarce in Greece, a country particularly affected by the obesity epidemic. The present study aimed to assess overweight and obesity prevalence of preschoolers in Thessaloniki, Greece, by using three different standards for defining childhood overweight and obesity. DESIGN: One thousand two hundred and fifty (1250) preschool children (657 boys and 593 girls) aged 2.0-6.0 years old from all public municipality kindergartens of Thessaloniki, Greece, participated in this cross-sectional survey conducted from 2009 to 2010.Body weight and height were measured and detailed anthropometry measurement was undertaken. BMI was classified to weight categories based on the CDC (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), IOTF (the International Obesity Task Force) and WHO (the World Health Organization) references. RESULTS: Rates of excess body weight varied significantly according to the different international criteria: IOTF: overweight (including obesity) 21.2%, obesity 5.8%;CDC: overweight (including obesity) 30.5%, obesity 13.5%; and WHO: overweight (including obesity) 32.6%, obesity 5%. Boys and older children were particularly affected. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight prevalence is high in Greek preschoolers and varies significantly according to the different criteria used, from 21.2% (IOTF reference) to 32.6% (CDC reference).