Prevalence and behavioral risk factors of overweight and obesity among children aged 218 in Beijing, China

Xiao Yi Shan, Bo Xi, Hong Cheng, Dong Qing Hou, Youfa Wang, Jie Mi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

121 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of obesity and the related behavioral risk factors among children in Beijing. Methods. Data were collected as part of a 2004 comprehensive study on obesity and metabolic syndrome among 21 198 children, aged 218 years old in Beijing. Four local and international references for the classification of childhood overweight and obesity were compared. Results. The combined prevalence of obesity and overweight among children, aged 218 years old, was 18.7%, 21.4%, and 20.1% based on the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) reference, new World Health Organization (WHO) growth standard, and the US 2000 Center for Disease Control and Prevention Growth Charts, respectively; and it was 21.7%, according to the local Chinese body mass index (BMI) reference for school-age children (aged 718 years). Physical inactivity, less sleep duration, higher consumption of alcohol, snack food and Western fast food and more screen time were associated with overweight and obesity (p<0.05). Conclusions. Over 20% of children and adolescents in Beijing are overweight or obese. Effort should be made to combat the growing obesity epidemic.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)383-389
Number of pages7
JournalInternational Journal of Pediatric Obesity
Volume5
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Body mass index
  • Child
  • China
  • Obesity
  • Overweight
  • Risk factor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Health Policy
  • Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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