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Trends and correlates of overweight and Obesity among adolescents from 2002 to 2010: A three‐cohort study based on a representative sample of P ortuguese adolescents
Author(s) -
Marques Adilson,
Gaspar De Matos Margarida
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
american journal of human biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.559
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1520-6300
pISSN - 1042-0533
DOI - 10.1002/ajhb.22613
Subject(s) - overweight , medicine , obesity , body mass index , demography , hum , odds , physical activity , cohort , odds ratio , gerontology , physical therapy , logistic regression , art , sociology , performance art , art history
Objective To report the prevalence and factors associated with overweight/obesity in a representative sample of Portuguese adolescents, from three different cohorts. Methods Data on 8,610 adolescents aged 11–17, who participated in the 2002, 2006, and 2010 Health Behaviour in School‐aged Children survey (HBSC/WHO) were analyzed. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on self‐reported weight/height. Factors investigated as potential correlates of overweight/obesity were as follows: physical activity, screen time, life satisfaction, and perception of health. Results The prevalence of overweight/obesity was around 20% for boys and 17% for girls between 2002 and 2010. Among boys, the prevalence of overweight/obesity was negatively associated with age in 2002 (odds ratio, OR = 0.89, P < 0.01), 2006 (OR = 0.92, P < 0.05), and 2010 (OR = 0.91, P < 0.05). Those who engaged in physical activity were less likely to be classified as overweight/obese in 2006 (OR = 0.89, P < 0.01) and 2010 (OR = 0.92, P < 0.05). Among girls, as age increased, the likelihood of being overweight/obese significantly decreased in all years. Results from 2002 (OR = 0.69, P < 0.001) and 2010 (OR = 0.88, P < 0.01) varied by almost 20%. Conclusion The prevalence of overweight/obesity is still high, but seems to have stabilized. Physical activity, for boys, and perception of health, for girls, are factors associated with a lower likelihood of being overweight or obese. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:844–849, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.