Analysis of the prevalence and influential factors for overweight and obesity of ninth grade students in China / 中华疾病控制杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Chinese ninth grade students and to analyze the influential factors that contribute to this situation. Methods A total of 5 967 students were selected from the 2016 China Education Panel Survey. Chi-square test was used to examine the differences in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among different groups and Logistic regression models were used to analyze the factors affecting obesity in boys and girls. Results The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 15.23%, 18.55% and 11.84% in total, male and female ninth grade students respectively. The multiple Logistic regression analysis indicated that the risk factors between boys and girls were significantly different. The main factors affecting boys obesity rate were one-child, boarding, both parents obesity, taking health education courses, having indoor stadium and screen time. Meanwhile, for girls the factors were boarding, both parents obesity and sports time. Conclusions Schools should arrange the schedule of boarding students and offer health education courses based on the characteristics of boys and girls. Meanwhile schools should unite parents to control adolescents’ screen time and nutrition balance, which is benefit for preventing adolescents overweight and obesity.