Overweight in 4 year old children in South Western France: prevalence and associated factors

We evaluated the prevalence of overweight and identified associated factors in a representative sample of preschool children in Haute‐Garonne department of France (n=1780; age: 3.9±0.4 y). The prevalence of overweight was 9.1% (> 90th percentile of the French reference curves for BMI). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, overweight at 4 years was associated with female gender, and having overweight mother or diabetic grand‐parent(s); odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI were 1.9 (1.2‐3.0), 2.2 (1.1–4.7), 2.6 (1.6–4.1), respectively. Nutrient intakes did not differ with weight status in girls; however, overweight boys had significantly greater energy intake than non‐overweight counterparts. Furthermore television viewing (>1 hr/ day) was significantly associated with risk of overweight (OR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.6–5.4). Using retrospective anthropometric data from official medical records, maintained for each child at birth, 9 and 24 mo, risk of overweight at 4 y was greater in children who were overweight as early as 9 or 24 mo of age; OR and 95% CI were 4.1 (2.4–7.1) and 12.1 (6.3–23.2), respectively. These results support that overweight in the first 2 years of life, family history of overweight or diabetes, and television viewing are associated with increased risk of being overweight at 4 years. Supported by French Social Security and Ministry of Health.