ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Prevalence of overweight and obesity has been reported as high even in preschool age children. However, recent international reports suggest that prevalence is now plateauing in pediatric age. Up to now no data are available on prevalence changes in Italy in the new Millennium. Aim of the study was to describe changes of overweight and obesity prevalence during the last decade in 5-6 y children in a large Health Unit in Northern Italy. METHODS: The Health Report n 8, used at 5-6 y and containing body mass index (BMI), was utilized for prevalence estimation from 2002 to 2011 according to BMI cut-offs proposed by Cole et al. RESULTS: Overweight and obese children progressively decreased during the study period (p 0.0002) with a minimum observed in 2011, showing a cumulative frequency of 23.1% in 2002 and of 16.6% in 2011 (-6.5%). Mean BMI values progressively decreased with time so that BMI values in 2010-2011 were significantly lower than in 2002-2003 (p < 0.0001). Underweight subjects increased with time (p 0.013), from 8.2% in 2002 to 9.9% in 2011, but grade 3 underweight (i.e., severe thinness) did not increase during the study period. In years 2010 plus 2011, not Italians children showed higher percentages of underweight (12.5%) and overweight plus obesity (23.5%) respect to Italian peers (9.0% and 18.1%, respectively, p values <0.01 and 0.0029). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report suggesting a possible decrease of overweight and obesity at 5-6 y in Italy in the last decade. As the study focused only on 5-6 y children, we don't know if the true overweight prevalence in pediatric age is really reducing or the starting age of overweight status is simply delayed. The higher risk for malnutrition, both for excess or defect, found in our Area in not Italian children respect to Italian peers, strongly suggests to implement weight control especially for those children. Our finding needs further confirm studies but seems encouraging for true prevention of such condition.
Subject(s)
Overweight/epidemiology , Analysis of Variance , Anthropometry , Chi-Square Distribution , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Male , PrevalenceABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To verify the possibility to use the Anthropometric Health Report (AHR), containing the BMI value, for overweight/obesity evaluation in 5-6-years-old children. DESIGN: Between January 2001 and December 2004, 4619 AHR had been examined. BMI values were compared with age and sex-specific BMI cutoffs, according to Cole, as well as with a single BMI value, calculated as the mean between boys and girls cutoff at 5.5 yrs of age. SETTING: 4619 children of ASL Provincia di Milano 2, aged 5-6 years were examined. PARTECIPANTS: 81 Family Pediatricians working in the area of Provincia di Milano 2. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: An easily available and low cost method for epidemiological studies on overweight and obesity in childhood. RESULTS: During the study period the number of examined children increased constantly (from 8% to 30% of the overall resident population). Also the correct compilation of the AHR raised (from 47% to 95%). The elevated percentage of overweight children (range 17-23%) and obese children (range 5-7%) in the study group confirms other published data in this age group. The use of a single BMI cutoff did not affect significantly (p > 0.05) the results with regard to the use ofage and sex-specific cut offs. Required time for carrying out the study was limited. Efficiency increased during the study: the number ofAHRs analyzed per hour increased from 37.5 in 2001 to 103.5 in 2004. Some critical points about current uses of AHR are discussed CONCLUSIONS: AHR could be used for epidemiological purposes. It could be considered an useful method in monitoring overweight/obesity in 5-6 years old children as well as in checking the efficacy of prevention and therapeutic strategies.
