Tracking of Overweight and Obesity in Greek Youth

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and tracking of overweight and obesity in a representative sample of Greek youth and the relation with child and parental factors. Methods: Data were derived from 2 follow-ups of the Greek 1983 National Perinatal Survey by means of a questionnaire completed by parents in 1990 and parents/adolescents in 2001. Parent- and self-reported height and weight measurements were available for 7,219 participants aged 7, and 2,842 participants aged 18. Results: The overall overweight/obesity prevalence was 24.3% at age 7, and 15.1% at age 18. The overweight prevalence increased from childhood to adolescence in boys (16.1 to 19.1%) and decreased in girls (19.2 to 8.0%), while the obesity prevalence showed a decrease in both boys (6.2 to 3.6%) and girls (5.8 to 1.0%). Overall, tracking of weight status was 73.7%. More boys (49.2%) remained overweight/obese than girls (24.7%). At age 7, overweight/ obesity was positively associated with male gender, paternal education, and urban residence. Overweight/obesity also correlated with male gender at age 18, and with parental weight status. Conclusions: The prevalence of overweight among Greek youth is high and showed an increase from childhood to adolescence in boys, and a decrease in girls.

Excesso de peso em adolescentes e estado nutricional dos pais: uma revisão sistemática

“…The average score obtained using the STROBE protocol was 17, with a maximum of 19.3 8,18 and a minimum of 15 19 (Chart 1).…”

“…The majority of the studies were carried out in the United States 21,22 , Greece 18,19 and Brazil 8,23 and all were published in the period between 2004 and 2013 8,18,19,[21][22][23][24] . The sample sizes ranged from 914 23 to 9571 22 individuals and, of the studies selected, two are prospective cohort studies 18,21 , while all the others are cross-sectional studies 8,19,[22][23][24] .…”

“…The sample sizes ranged from 914 23 to 9571 22 individuals and, of the studies selected, two are prospective cohort studies 18,21 , while all the others are cross-sectional studies 8,19,[22][23][24] . The studies included members of both sexes in similar proportions, with the exception of one which was carried out in Iran and involved only female adolescents (Chart 1) 25 .…”

“…The prevalence of obesity and overweight varied according to the geographic region in which the study was developed. A greater prevalence of overweight was found in the studies carried out in Brazil 8,23 and in Greece 18,19 , while the research carried out in the United States found the prevalence of obesity to be greater 21,23 . The lowest prevalence of obesity was found in a prospective cohort in Greece 18 .…”

“…Included multivariate analysis that was most commonly used to check for an association between nutritional status of adolescents and their parents and to calculate the risk of this event was logistical regression 18,[22][23][24] . The dependent variable in the studies was overweight and/or obesity in adolescents, and the independent variable was excess adiposity in parents.…”