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Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in 2‐ to 6‐year‐old Italian Children
Author(s) -
Maffeis Claudio,
Consolaro Alessandro,
Cavarzere Paolo,
Chini Lorenza,
Banzato Claudia,
Grezzani Alessandra,
Silvagni Davide,
Salzano Giuseppina,
Luca Filippo,
Tatò Luciano
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1038/oby.2006.87
Subject(s) - overweight , obesity , medicine , demography , prevalence , task force , cross sectional study , pediatrics , environmental health , population , pathology , sociology , political science , public administration
Objective : To assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 2‐ to 6‐year‐old Italian children and to compare the prevalence between the north and the south of the country. Research Methods and Procedures : This was a cross‐sectional study of 2150 subjects (M/F: 1137/1013), 5.36 ± 0.83 years of age. The sampling areas were Verona (north Italy) and Messina (south Italy). We used definitions of overweight and obesity using BMI values, with cut‐off values proposed by the International Obesity Task Force. Results : The prevalence of overweight was 16.6% (males: 13.9%, females: 19.6%), and it was higher in the south (males: 17.8%, females: 22.4%) than in the north (males: 11.3%, females: 17.9%). The prevalence of obesity was 8.0% (males: 8.3%, females: 7.7%), and it was higher in the south (males: 12.3%, females: 10.7%) than in the north (males: 5.7%, females: 5.8%). Using the Centers for Disease Control reference charts, the prevalence of overweight and obesity of Italian children was close to that reported in children living in the United States (32% vs. 32.7%, respectively). Discussion : The prevalence of overweight and obesity in young Italian children is very high, and it is rapidly growing. In the south of the country, the prevalence is higher than in the north.