Comparison of overweight and obesity prevalence in school‐aged youth from 34 countries and their relationships with physical activity and dietary patterns

Abstract

The purposes of this systematic review were to present and compare recent estimates of the prevalence of overweight and obesity in school-aged youth from 34 countries and to examine associations between overweight and selected dietary and physical activity patterns. Data consisted of a cross-sectional survey of 137 593 youth (10-16 years) from the 34 (primarily European) participating countries of the 2001-2002 Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children Study. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was determined based on self-reported height and weight and the international child body mass index standards. Logistic regression was employed to examine associations between overweight status with selected dietary and physical activity patterns. The two countries with the highest prevalence of overweight (pre-obese + obese) and obese youth were Malta (25.4% and 7.9%) and the United States (25.1% and 6.8%) while the two countries with the lowest prevalence were Lithuania (5.1% and 0.4%) and Latvia (5.9% and 0.5%). Overweight and obesity prevalence was particularly high in countries located in North America, Great Britain, and south-western Europe. Within most countries physical activity levels were lower and television viewing times were higher in overweight compared to normal weight youth. In 91% of the countries examined, the frequency of sweets intake was lower in overweight than normal weight youth. Overweight status was not associated with the intake of fruits, vegetables, and soft drinks or time spent on the computer. In conclusion, the adolescent obesity epidemic is a global issue. Increasing physical activity participation and decreasing television viewing should be the focus of strategies aimed at preventing and treating overweight and obesity in youth.

Child overweight in France and its relationship with physical activity, sedentary behaviour and socioeconomic status

“…Lobstein and Frelut (2003), who examined data using the IOTF cutoff points based on measured weight and height of 7 to 11-year-old children from 21 European countries, showed that prevalence of OW in France is similar to levels observed in northern European countries (12-22%), and much lower than those observed in southern Europe, mainly Spain (34%) or Italy (36%). Another review by Janssen et al (2005), based on reported body measurements of 10 to 16-year-old schoolchildren from 34 European countries also based on IOTF cutoff points, ranked France in an intermediary position with levels close to those observed in northern countries (10-15%), higher than levels in eastern Europe (o10%) and lower than levels observed in Great Britain, Spain, Italy and Greece (15-20%). This review also suggested that French 10 to 16-year-old schoolchildren spend less time watching TV and using the computer than this age group in other European countries.…”

“…It confirms that childhood OW prevalence is high in France, as already suggested by three recent national surveys, each on a narrower age range. These showed prevalence rates of OW (including obesity) of 14.5% in children aged 5-6 years (1999-2000) (Labeyrie and Niel, 2003), 18.1% in children aged 7-9 years (2000) (Rolland-Cachera et al, 2002), 20.0% in preadolescents aged 10-11 years (2001-2002) (Labeyrie and Niel, 2004), and 11.6% in adolescents aged 11-16 years (2001-2002) (Janssen et al, 2005), with respect to the same IOTF definition (Cole et al, 2000). Lastly, the results of the ObEpi (Obesity Epidemiology), another national survey performed in 2000 on a larger sample of children aged 2-17 years, but which did not account for behavioural risk factors, gave 13.3% (Basdevant and Guy-Grand, 2004).…”

“…The absence of a significant relationship between physical activity and OW found in the preadolescent and adolescent groups is only partially shared in the literature. Crosssectional and longitudinal studies are roughly divided between finding no effect (McMurray et al, 1995;Goran et al, 1997;Maffeis et al, 1998;Kimm et al, 2001), or a protective effect of activity (Moore et al, 1995;Hernandez et al, 1999;Berkey et al, 2000;O'Loughlin et al, 2000;Tremblay and Willms, 2003;Janssen et al, 2005).…”

Sedentary Behavior and Dietary Intake in Children, Adolescents, and Adults

“…9 In addition, while cross-sectional data on screen time in 10-16 year olds from 34 countries showed higher degrees of overweight with increased TV viewing in 65% of the countries, this leaves more than one-third having no association. 10 Overall, therefore, sedentary behavior in the form of screen time is implicated in youth overweight and obesity, but findings are less clear cut than some claim.…”

Determinants of the prevalence and incidence of overweight in children and adolescents

“…These studies have investigated the influence of lifestyle determinants on childhood overweight (e.g. lifestyle factors (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) ), but only few studies have addressed …”