High prevalence of overweight and obesity among inner city Chinese children in Shanghai, 2011

Abstract

Background: In China, the prevalence of overweight and obesity appears to be increasing at unacceptable levels among young people living in major cities undergoing rapid economic growth.

Objective: To report the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Shanghai inner city youth using the recently published International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) Asian definition.

Methods: Secondary analysis of children aged 8–15 years who participated in the Shanghai Schools’ Physical Fitness Examinations, a representative school-based survey. Height and weight were measured and body mass index (kg/m²) was calculated. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was determined using the IOTF children’s BMI cut-points for Asian populations, equivalent to an adult BMI of 23 kg/m² (overweight) and 27 kg/m² (obese).

Results: The prevalence of combined overweight and obesity was 49.1% for boys and 30.8% for girls aged 8–15-years. Almost one-in-five boys were obese, compared with 8.4% of girls. In boys the prevalence of overweight appeared to increase from age 10 years.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of combined overweight and obesity among urban Chinese youth, especially among boys, requires immediate health promotion intervention.

• Aadolescents
• body mass index
• child
• China
• obesity
• urban

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the district education committees of Shanghai and 24 schools that helped facilitate the study.

X-XJ performed the statistical analysis and drafted the manuscript. LLH oversaw the statistical analysis and critically revised the manuscript. LAB and DD revised the manuscript. H-JS designed the survey, facilitated the data collection and revised the manuscript. LLH, LAB, DD, LW and H-JS all participated in supervision of X-XJ. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.