Childhood Obesity in Serbia on the Rise

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine changes in obesity prevalence among primary school children in Serbia between 2015 and 2019 rounds of the national WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI-Serbia). Cross-sectional studies were conducted in 2015 and 2019. The nationally representative samples of primary school children were measured for body height and weight, following the COSI protocol. Body Mass Index was calculated, and the IOTF and WHO definitions were used to classify children as overweight or obese. Participants were children of both sexes aged 7.00–8.99 years (n = 6105). Significant differences in overweight (obesity included) prevalence between two COSI rounds were identified regardless of definitions applied. According to the WHO definitions, prevalence of overweight and obesity combined increased in 7–9-year-old children in Serbia from 30.7% in 2015 to 34.8% in 2019 (z = −3.309, p < 0.05), and according to the IOTF standards, the increase from 22.8% to 30% was registered (z = −6.08, p = 0.00). The childhood overweight/obesity rate is increasing in Serbia, which places monitoring and surveillance of children’s nutritional status high on the public health agenda.

Prevalencia y factores de riesgo asociados a la obesidad infantil: revisión sistemática

“…Según las definiciones de la OMS, la prevalencia combinada de sobrepeso y obesidad aumentó en niños de 7 a 9 años en Serbia del 30,7% en 2015 al 34,8% en 2019 (z = -3,309, p < 0,05), y según los estándares de la IOTF, el aumento de 22,8 Se registra% al 30% (z = -6.08, p = 0.00). La tasa de sobrepeso/obesidad infantil está aumentando en Serbia, lo que sitúa el seguimiento y la vigilancia del estado nutricional de los niños en un lugar destacado de la agenda de salud pública (Marković et al, 2021).…”

Effects of After-School Volleyball Program on Body Composition in Overweight Adolescent Girls

“…The number of overweight and obese children worldwide has risen alarmingly in the last twenty years [ 19 ], partly due to insufficient physical activity and unhealthy eating habits. The school environment is the setting where adolescents usually spend most of their day.…”

Influence of socioeconomic and demographic parameters on obesity in children aged 7 to 11 in North Bačka region

“…A large number of children is affected by obesity, and the prevalence has increased during the past decades all over the world (Zhang et al 2018), both in developed and developing countries (Ng et al 2014). This trend has also been observed in Serbia where according to the WHO definitions, prevalence of overweight/obesity increased in 7-9-year-old children from 30.7% in 2015 to 34.8% in 2019, and according to the IOTF standards, the increase was from 22.8% to 30% (Marković et al 2021). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in primary school children severe obesity ranged from 1.0% in Swedish and Moldovan children to 5.5% in Maltese children.…”