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The report by Susan Mayor makes a depressing read. Clearly the
obesity epidemic is no longer confined to the other side of the Atlantic.
The problem of obesity in children appears to be even more
significant in deprived areas of South Wales. In 2002-2003 we carried out
a prospective observational study aimed at estimating the problem of
obesity in children presenting to the outpatient department of Royal
Glamorgan Hospital. The hospital caters to the population of Rhondda,
Cynon and Taff Ely which are amongst the most deprived areas in Europe.
We used Weight and height measurements (which are routinely done for
all children visiting the outpatients), to calculate the Body Mass Index
(BMI). These were then plotted on standard BMI centile charts. Using the
guidelines published by the Child Growth Foundation those above the 98th
centile were considered obese while those between the 91st and 98th
centile were classed as overweight.
Of the 1184 children attending the outpatients, 992 satisfied the
study criteria: those excluded were infants less than 6 months and others
where it was difficult to accurately make these measurements. 133 (13.4%)
were obese and 132 (13.3%) were overweight. Although there was no
difference in the proportion of overweight girls (13.7%)and overweight
boys (13.2%), a higher percentage of girls (15.2%) was significantly obese
compared to boys (11.6%). Analysis of the various age groups showed only
13.6% of the infants>6 months and 15.5% of the 1 to 3 year olds to be
obese or overweight. The proportion of overweight or obese children
increased with age to reach 39.5% in 11 to 15 year olds.
The problem of obesity is on the increase and perhaps
disproportionately so in the more deprived areas. Simply recognising the
problem is not enough. Urgent measures aimed at tackling the issue are
required.
OBESITY AN INCREASING PROBLEM IN DEPRIVED AREAS OF SOUTH WALES
The report by Susan Mayor makes a depressing read. Clearly the
obesity epidemic is no longer confined to the other side of the Atlantic.
The problem of obesity in children appears to be even more
significant in deprived areas of South Wales. In 2002-2003 we carried out
a prospective observational study aimed at estimating the problem of
obesity in children presenting to the outpatient department of Royal
Glamorgan Hospital. The hospital caters to the population of Rhondda,
Cynon and Taff Ely which are amongst the most deprived areas in Europe.
We used Weight and height measurements (which are routinely done for
all children visiting the outpatients), to calculate the Body Mass Index
(BMI). These were then plotted on standard BMI centile charts. Using the
guidelines published by the Child Growth Foundation those above the 98th
centile were considered obese while those between the 91st and 98th
centile were classed as overweight.
Of the 1184 children attending the outpatients, 992 satisfied the
study criteria: those excluded were infants less than 6 months and others
where it was difficult to accurately make these measurements. 133 (13.4%)
were obese and 132 (13.3%) were overweight. Although there was no
difference in the proportion of overweight girls (13.7%)and overweight
boys (13.2%), a higher percentage of girls (15.2%) was significantly obese
compared to boys (11.6%). Analysis of the various age groups showed only
13.6% of the infants>6 months and 15.5% of the 1 to 3 year olds to be
obese or overweight. The proportion of overweight or obese children
increased with age to reach 39.5% in 11 to 15 year olds.
The problem of obesity is on the increase and perhaps
disproportionately so in the more deprived areas. Simply recognising the
problem is not enough. Urgent measures aimed at tackling the issue are
required.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests