Epidemiology of obesity and influential factors in China: a multicenter cross-sectional study of children and adolescents

Abstract Objective To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for overweight and obese among Chinese children and adolescents. Methods This analytical cross-sectional study included 16,640 children and adolescents aged 6–18 years across four provinces of China in 2016. Physical characteristics...

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Main Authors: Hongai Li, Xiayu Xiang, Yajun Yi, Bailu Yan, Leta Yi, Ning Ding, Jinping Yang, Zhuohe Gu, Qing Luo, Yan Huang, Lichun Fan, Wei Xiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-08-01
Series:BMC Pediatrics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-04970-1
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author Hongai Li
Xiayu Xiang
Yajun Yi
Bailu Yan
Leta Yi
Ning Ding
Jinping Yang
Zhuohe Gu
Qing Luo
Yan Huang
Lichun Fan
Wei Xiang
author_facet Hongai Li
Xiayu Xiang
Yajun Yi
Bailu Yan
Leta Yi
Ning Ding
Jinping Yang
Zhuohe Gu
Qing Luo
Yan Huang
Lichun Fan
Wei Xiang
author_sort Hongai Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for overweight and obese among Chinese children and adolescents. Methods This analytical cross-sectional study included 16,640 children and adolescents aged 6–18 years across four provinces of China in 2016. Physical characteristics and responses to questionnaires were analyzed. Body Mass Index (BMI) and the prevalence of overweight and obesity were calculated. Results Among children and adolescents, the overall prevalence of overweight and obesity in 2016 in four regions of China was 27.2% and 29.6%, respectively. Among different stages and sexes, the highest prevalence of obesity (15.8%) was observed in adolescent boys. From childhood to adolescence, the obesity rate among boys increased by 0.7% (from 15.1% to 15.8%), while the obesity rate among girls decreased by 0.9% (from 10.8% to 9.9%). Children and adolescents who were overweight or obese had significantly higher systolic blood pressures, larger waist circumferences and larger hip sizes than those with a normal BMI. Logistic regression analyses identified thirteen factors associated with overweight or obesity in children and adolescents. Conclusions Our results indicate that the prevalence of overweight and obesity is high among children and adolescents, especially among male adolescents in four regions of China. A suitable intervention program should not only help parents understand the serious risk of childhood obesity but also, more importantly, help to encourage a healthy lifestyle among children and adolescents.
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spelling doaj-art-d39886edd59b426081bb62a3351e9c802024-11-10T12:42:46ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312024-08-0124111210.1186/s12887-024-04970-1Epidemiology of obesity and influential factors in China: a multicenter cross-sectional study of children and adolescentsHongai Li0Xiayu Xiang1Yajun Yi2Bailu Yan3Leta Yi4Ning Ding5Jinping Yang6Zhuohe Gu7Qing Luo8Yan Huang9Lichun Fan10Wei Xiang11Department of Pediatrics, Hainan Women and Children’s Medical Center (Children’s Hospital, Hainan Medical University)Department of New Networks, Peng Cheng LaboratoryDepartment of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical SchoolDepartment of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt UniversityDepartment of Medicine, University of North Carolina Medical CenterInstitute for International Health Professions Education and Research, China Medical UniversityClinical Nutrition Department, Zunhua People’s HospitalDepartment of Clinical Nutrition, Maoming People’s HospitalDepartment of Pediatrics, Hainan Women and Children’s Medical Center (Children’s Hospital, Hainan Medical University)Department of Pediatrics, Hainan Women and Children’s Medical Center (Children’s Hospital, Hainan Medical University)Department of Pediatrics, Hainan Women and Children’s Medical Center (Children’s Hospital, Hainan Medical University)Department of Pediatrics, Hainan Women and Children’s Medical Center (Children’s Hospital, Hainan Medical University)Abstract Objective To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for overweight and obese among Chinese children and adolescents. Methods This analytical cross-sectional study included 16,640 children and adolescents aged 6–18 years across four provinces of China in 2016. Physical characteristics and responses to questionnaires were analyzed. Body Mass Index (BMI) and the prevalence of overweight and obesity were calculated. Results Among children and adolescents, the overall prevalence of overweight and obesity in 2016 in four regions of China was 27.2% and 29.6%, respectively. Among different stages and sexes, the highest prevalence of obesity (15.8%) was observed in adolescent boys. From childhood to adolescence, the obesity rate among boys increased by 0.7% (from 15.1% to 15.8%), while the obesity rate among girls decreased by 0.9% (from 10.8% to 9.9%). Children and adolescents who were overweight or obese had significantly higher systolic blood pressures, larger waist circumferences and larger hip sizes than those with a normal BMI. Logistic regression analyses identified thirteen factors associated with overweight or obesity in children and adolescents. Conclusions Our results indicate that the prevalence of overweight and obesity is high among children and adolescents, especially among male adolescents in four regions of China. A suitable intervention program should not only help parents understand the serious risk of childhood obesity but also, more importantly, help to encourage a healthy lifestyle among children and adolescents.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-04970-1EpidemiologyObesityChildAdolescent
spellingShingle Hongai Li
Xiayu Xiang
Yajun Yi
Bailu Yan
Leta Yi
Ning Ding
Jinping Yang
Zhuohe Gu
Qing Luo
Yan Huang
Lichun Fan
Wei Xiang
Epidemiology of obesity and influential factors in China: a multicenter cross-sectional study of children and adolescents
BMC Pediatrics
Epidemiology
Obesity
Child
Adolescent
title Epidemiology of obesity and influential factors in China: a multicenter cross-sectional study of children and adolescents
title_full Epidemiology of obesity and influential factors in China: a multicenter cross-sectional study of children and adolescents
title_fullStr Epidemiology of obesity and influential factors in China: a multicenter cross-sectional study of children and adolescents
title_full_unstemmed Epidemiology of obesity and influential factors in China: a multicenter cross-sectional study of children and adolescents
title_short Epidemiology of obesity and influential factors in China: a multicenter cross-sectional study of children and adolescents
title_sort epidemiology of obesity and influential factors in china a multicenter cross sectional study of children and adolescents
topic Epidemiology
Obesity
Child
Adolescent
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-04970-1
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