Maria Bygdell1, Jimmy Célind1,2, Lina Lilja1,3, Jari Martikainen4, Lena Simonson5, Lovisa Sjögren1,2,6, Claes Ohlsson1,7, Jenny M Kindblom1,8. 1. Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. 3. Region Västra Götaland, Research and Development Primary Health Care and Kungshöjd Pediatric Clinic, Gothenburg, Sweden. 4. Bioinformatics Core Facility, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. 5. School Health Services, The City of Gothenburg, Sweden. 6. Hallands Hospital Halmstad, Department of Pediatrics, Halmstad, Sweden. 7. Region Västra Götaland, Department of Drug Treatment, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. 8. Region Västra Götaland, Pediatric Clinical Research Center, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Abstract
AIM: The aim of this study was to present prevalence data for overweight and obesity across school age in a large, recent, population-based cohort of children in Gothenburg, Sweden. METHODS: We included 66,807 children (48.5% girls) aged 5-18.9 years who had their height and weight measured in school health care 2015-2018. The BMI values were categorised according to the age-dependent cut-offs for overweight and obesity from the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). RESULTS: Overall, the prevalence of overweight and obesity for girls and boys was 18.1% and 18.0%, respectively. We observed increasing proportions of overweight (girls 11.5-17.1% and boys 8.4-17.4%) and obesity (girls 3.0-4.2% and boys 2.7-6.1%) with increasing age (p < 0.001 for trend in both sexes). Moreover, girls had higher prevalence of overweight during ages 5.0 to 8.9 years compared with boys (p < 0.001), while boys had higher prevalence of obesity 15.0-18.9 years compared with girls (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we demonstrate increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity across the entire school age range, as well as differences in prevalences between boys and girls, in a population-based sample of 67,000 children in Gothenburg city, Sweden. Continuous monitoring of schoolchildren, together with effective preventive measures, is crucial to curb the obesity epidemic and its consequences.
AIM: The aim of this study was to present prevalence data for overweight and obesity across school age in a large, recent, population-based cohort of children in Gothenburg, Sweden. METHODS: We included 66,807 children (48.5% girls) aged 5-18.9 years who had their height and weight measured in school health care 2015-2018. The BMI values were categorised according to the age-dependent cut-offs for overweight and obesity from the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). RESULTS: Overall, the prevalence of overweight and obesity for girls and boys was 18.1% and 18.0%, respectively. We observed increasing proportions of overweight (girls 11.5-17.1% and boys 8.4-17.4%) and obesity (girls 3.0-4.2% and boys 2.7-6.1%) with increasing age (p < 0.001 for trend in both sexes). Moreover, girls had higher prevalence of overweight during ages 5.0 to 8.9 years compared with boys (p < 0.001), while boys had higher prevalence of obesity 15.0-18.9 years compared with girls (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we demonstrate increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity across the entire school age range, as well as differences in prevalences between boys and girls, in a population-based sample of 67,000 children in Gothenburg city, Sweden. Continuous monitoring of schoolchildren, together with effective preventive measures, is crucial to curb the obesity epidemic and its consequences.
Authors: Kerstin Albertsson-Wikland; Aimon Niklasson; Lars Gelander; Anton Holmgren; Andreas F M Nierop Journal: BMC Pediatr Date: 2022-04-30 Impact factor: 2.567
Authors: Johanna Sandborg; Pontus Henriksson; Emmie Söderström; Jairo H Migueles; Marcus Bendtsen; Marie Blomberg; Marie Löf Journal: Pediatr Obes Date: 2022-02-01 Impact factor: 3.910