Prevalence and regional distribution of childhood overweight and obesity in Shandong Province, China

Ying-Xiu Zhang, Shu-Rong Wang

Jinan, China

Author Affiliations: Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China (Zhang YX); Shandong Blood Center, Jinan, China (Wang SR)

Corresponding Author: Ying-Xiu Zhang, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 16992 Jingshi Road, Jinan 250014, China (Tel: +86-0531-82679413; Fax: +86-0531-82679708; Email: sdcdczyx@163.com)

doi: 10.1007/s12519-012-0392-y

Background: The rising prevalence of childhood obesity was observed in China. This study assessed the prevalence and district distribution of childhood obesity in Shandong Province, China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the province. A total of 42 275 students (21 222 boys and 21 053 girls) aged 7-18 years from 16 districts participated in this study. Height and body weight of all subjects were measured, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was obtained according to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-offs.

Results: In 2010, the prevalence rates of combined overweight and obesity reached 26.86% in urban boys, 18.32% in rural boys, 14.36% in urban girls, and 11.31% in rural girls, respectively. An increasing trend was observed in the prevalence of overweight and obesity from the low socioeconomic status (SES) group to the moderate and high SES groups. The prevalence  rates of combined overweight and obesity in the three SES groups were 18.46%, 21.08% and 27.31% in boys and 10.43%, 12.42% and 15.18% in girls, respectively.

Conclusions: There is a high level of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Shandong Province, China. The distribution of childhood obesity is positively associated with the regional SES.

Key words: child and adolescent; district difference; prevalence; obesity; overweight

World J Pediatr 2013;9(2):135-139