Secular changes of anthropometric measures for the past 30 years in South-West Germany

Abstract

We investigated long-term changes in weight and skinfold thicknesses in German schoolchildren. In 2006, anthropometric measures were collected after a standardized protocol among 1079 children within the Ulm Research on Metabolism, Exercise and Lifestyle in children (URMEL-ICE) study. Data were compared with historical data (1975)(1976). In URMEL-ICE, prevalence of overweight (IOTF criteria) was 16.5% (boys) and 17.3% (girls) and of obesity 3.5 and 3.6%, respectively. Compared with historical data the number of children above the 90th percentile 1975/76 increased statistically significantly for weight (approximately 150% both sexes), for subscapular (boys 288%, girls 206%) and triceps skinfold thickness (boys 460%, girls 413%). Statistically significant increases above the 50th percentile 1975/76 were found: weight 36 and 26%, subscapular 43 and 60% and triceps skinfold thickness 63 and 69% for boys and girls, respectively. Body fat among 6-to 9-year-old children increased dramatically within 30 years. Moreover, our data suggest substantial changes in body composition among normalweight children towards an increased body fat mass.

Declining prevalence rates for overweight and obesity in German children starting school

“…Increasing prevalence rates for overweight and obesity in children have also been reported in many different states of the western world as well as in developing countries [6,15,17]. Prevalence rates for overweight and obesity have also increased in older children and adolescents in Germany over the last decades [12,21]. However, most recently, some countries reported stagnation or even a decline in prevalence rates for overweight and obesity in children during the last few years [10,14,16,24,33,34].…”

Physical activity of German children during different segments of the school day

“…Data from the US, Australia and many European countries show a consistent rise in BMI and body fat in children (Ng et al 2014; Pigeot et al 2010), which is considered to have extensive health implications including early type 2 diabetes, hyperinsulinemia and cardiovascular disease (Després et al 2008). Although, a plateauing of childhood obesity has recently been suggested (Wabitsch et al 2014), numbers from Germany show an increase of 150 % for body weight when comparing children’s data from the 1970s to those from 2006 (Nagel et al 2009). Subcutaneous fat in 6–9 year old children has been shown to increase even three to fivefold (Nagel et al 2009), which means, even if levels have plateaued, children’s weight status stopped at a very high level.…”

Metabolic Syndrome in Children and Adolescents

“…However, even in normal-weight children the percentage of body fat is increasing [7]. Hence, it is even more important to not only implement a balanced diet but also reduce time spent sitting or increase physical activity and thus fitness as a preventive factor.…”

“…The current development is being determined by the ongoing KiGGS survey. Albeit emerging results may signify stagnation, it is indicative that even normal-weight children exhibit a higher body fat percentage [7]. This is relevant since possible comorbidity does not only increase in accordance with the calculative body mass index (BMI) but also with increased (visceral) body fat content.…”