Abstract
Background: The obesity epidemic has alarmed consciousness against it in aim to prevent future mortality and morbidity.
Objectives:: To investigate longitudinally the prevalence of overweight/ obesity among Greek children by gender. Population and methods: Data was obtained from a prospective follow-up study of 2000 children from birth to 18 y of age. Information was gathered by self-completed questionnaires. The age and sex specific BMI cut off points of the International Obesity Task Force were used to define overweight and obesity in 7 and 18 year olds.
Results: 1 out of 3 overweight/ obese 7y old children remain overweight/ obese at 18y. More specifically 1 out of 2 boys and 1 out of 4 girls do so. Logistic regression revealed no significant factors for boys who remain overweight/obese during adolescence. On the contrary, 7y old overweight/ obese girls are 7 times more likely to become normal at 18y when they have an incorrect impression of their body shape and consider themselves overweight (33%). Also girls with overweight/ obese mothers run a 3 times higher risk of remaining overweight/obese during adolescence. No other factor from those entered into the regression appeared to be significant.
Conclusion: Prevalence of obesity in both genders is similar and high (22–25%) at 7 years. 1 out of 2 overweight/ obese boys will become an overweight/ obese adolescent. This is not predictable so far. Girls are liable to psychosocial aspects of modern lifestyle and manage to lose their excess body weight.
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Lekea, V., Veltsista, A., Kavadias, G. et al. 150 Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Greek Children At the Ages of 7 and 18Y by Gender. A Longitudinal Study. Pediatr Res 56, 489 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200409000-00173
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200409000-00173