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Prevalence and trends in overweight and obesity in three cross sectional studies of British children, 1974-94

BMJ 2001; 322 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.322.7277.24 (Published 06 January 2001) Cite this as: BMJ 2001;322:24

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prevalence and trends in childhood obesity in zaragoza (spain)

Obesity is now considered a global epidemic because its prevalence
and severity both in adults and children is increasing worlwide at
alarming rates (1). There has been a lack of consensus over the
definitions of childhood obesity, but internationally based cut-off points
for body mass index (BMI) have now been published (2). Chinn and Rona (3)
presented prevalences and secular trends in overweight and obesity in
white children in the United Kingdom. The aim of this report is to
contribute to have a real idea of the prevalence of overweight and obesity
in Europe by describing obesity prevalences in two cross-sectional surveys
conducted in Zaragoza (Spain), in 1980 and 1995.

The samples analysed in the present study have been inluded in two
cross-sectional surveys conducted in 1980 (2864 children) and 1995 (1350
children). The subjects were all Caucasian children and lived in the
central part of Spain (Provincia de Zaragoza). The sampling procedure was
the same in both surveys: a representative sample of the schools of this
area was drawn in each survey (4). Parents or supervisors of the children
were informed by a letter of the nature and purpose of the study and we
have obtained their written consent. The protocols were approved by the
ethical committee of the University Hospital of Zaragoza, Spain. All the
measurements were performed in duplicate by a well trained
anthropometrist. In all these children we have measured weight and height,
and we have calculated BMI: weight/height2 (kg/m2). The definitions of
overweight and obesity were based on criteria recently published by Cole
et al (2). Prevalences were calculated across 3-year age categories (6
through 8, 9 through 11, and 12 through 14).

Prevalences of overweight and obesity are presented in Tables 1 and 2
respectively. In general, overweight and obesity prevalences have
increased from 1980 to 1995, especially in prepubertal children.

The recently agreed cut-off points for overweight and obesity give us
the opportunity to get information on the prevalence of these condition in
different countries and regions, aiming to have a picture of the situation
with a common "meter".

Obesity prevalences and trends were similar than those in children in
the United Kingdom, but overweight prevalences in Zaragoza were higher
than in the United Kingdom. If we suppose that overweight children are
predisposed to develop obesity (1), there is an important concern in our
population, to prevent the development of obesity in these children.

Luis A. Moreno

Professor

Jesús Fleta

Professor

E.U. de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad de Zaragoza. Zaragoza (Spain)

Antonio Sarría

Emeritus Professor

Manuel Bueno

Professor and Chairman

Departamento de Pediatría. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Zaragoza.
Zaragoza (Spain)

Funding: Supported in part by grant 216-02 from Universidad de
Zaragoza, Zaragoza (Spain).

1. Moreno LA, Sarría A, Fleta J, Rodríguez G, Bueno M. Trends in body
mass index and overweight prevalence among children and adolescents in the
region of Aragón (Spain) from 1985 to 1995. Int J Obes 2000;24:925-31.

2. Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH. Establishing a standard
definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international
survey. BMJ 2000;320:1240-3.

3. Chinn S, Rona RJ. Prevalence and trends in overweight and obesity in
three cross sectional studies of british children, 1974-94. BMJ
2001;322:24-6.

4. Moreno LA, Fleta J, Mur L, Rodríguez G, Sarría A, Bueno M. Waist
circumference values in Spanish children---Gender related differences. Eur
J Clin Nutr 1999;53:429-33.

Table 1. Prevalence of overweight in children in 1980 and 1995 in 
Spain. Values are percentage overweight

Change in prevalence
(95% CI)

                1980	1995	1980 to 1995
Boys			

  Age (years)			

  6 to 8	12.6	17.5	4.9 (-0.4 to 10.2)

  9 to 11	11.0	25.6	14.6 (8.5 to 20.7)

  12 to 14	12.7	16.7	4.0 (-2.2 to 10.2)
  Total	        12.0	20.1	8.1 (4.7 to 11.5)

 Girls			

  Age (years)			

  6 to 8	16.0	19.3	3.3 (-2.7 to 9.3)

  9 to 11	15.2	21.6	6.4 (0.3 to 12.5)

  12 to 14	11.8	12.0	0.2 (-5.7 to 6.1)
  Total	        14.4	18.4	4 (0.5 to 7.5)
Table 2. Prevalence of obesity in children in Spain in 1980 and 1995.

No (%) of obese children

        1980	        1995	        1980 to 1995
Boys	24/1553 (1.5) 	15/701 (2.1)	0.6 (-0.6 to 1.8)
Girls	19/1311 (1.4)	32/659 (3.3)	1.9 (0.4 to 3.4)

Competing interests: Table 1. Prevalence of overweight in children in 1980 and 1995 in Spain. Values are percentage overweightChange in prevalence(95% CI) 1980 1995 1980 to 1995Boys Age (years) 6 to 8 12.6 17.5 4.9 (-0.4 to 10.2) 9 to 11 11.0 25.6 14.6 (8.5 to 20.7) 12 to 14 12.7 16.7 4.0 (-2.2 to 10.2) Total 12.0 20.1 8.1 (4.7 to 11.5) Girls Age (years) 6 to 8 16.0 19.3 3.3 (-2.7 to 9.3) 9 to 11 15.2 21.6 6.4 (0.3 to 12.5) 12 to 14 11.8 12.0 0.2 (-5.7 to 6.1) Total 14.4 18.4 4 (0.5 to 7.5)

02 February 2001
Luis A Moreno
professor
university of zaragoza