Updated prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in 11- to 17-year-old adolescents in Germany. Results from the telephone-based KiGGS Wave 1 after correction for bias in self-reports

Abstract

BackgroundThe nationwide “German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents” (KiGGS), conducted in 2003–2006, showed an increase in the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity compared to the early 1990s, indicating the need for regularly monitoring. Recently, a follow-up—KiGGS Wave 1 (2009–2012)—was carried out as a telephone-based survey, providing self-reported height and weight. Since self-reports lead to a bias in prevalence rates of weight status, a correction is needed. The aim of the present study is to obtain updated prevalence rates for overweight and obesity for 11- to 17-year olds living in Germany after correction for bias in self-reports.MethodsIn KiGGS Wave 1, self-reported height and weight were collected from 4948 adolescents during a telephone interview. Participants were also asked about their body perception. From a subsample of KiGGS Wave 1 participants, measurements for height and weight were collected in a physical examination. In order to correct prevalence rates derived from self-reports, weight status categories based on self-reported and measured height and weight were used to estimate a correction formula according to an established procedure under consideration of body perception. The correction procedure was applied and corrected rates were estimated.ResultsThe corrected prevalence of overweight, including obesity, derived from KiGGS Wave 1, showed that the rate has not further increased compared to the KiGGS baseline survey (18.9 % vs. 18.8 % based on the German reference).ConclusionThe rates of overweight still remain at a high level. The results of KiGGS Wave 1 emphasise the significance of this health issue and the need for prevention of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents.

Diagnostic performance of body mass index to identify excess body fat in children with cerebral palsy

“…The prevalence of overweight, including obesity, in children with CP in our study group depended on the BMI evaluation criteria used (WHO, WOF, or DAG), and was between 7.6% and 21.9% (Table ). In Germany, the prevalence of overweight, including obesity, was reported to be 14.9% in children aged 4 to 10 years and 18.9% in children aged 11 to 17 years . According to the WHO and WOF BMI evaluation criteria, the prevalence of overweight, including obesity, in our study population is comparable.…”

“…In Germany, the prevalence of overweight, including obesity, was reported to be 14.9% in children aged 4 to 10 years and 18.9% in children aged 11 to 17 years. 25,26 According to the WHO and WOF BMI evaluation criteria, the prevalence of overweight, including obesity, in our study population is comparable. On the contrary, according to the BMI evaluation criteria of DAG, the prevalence seems to be underestimated (7.5%).…”

Physical activity is associated with lower insulin and C‐peptide during glucose challenge in children and adolescents with family background of diabetes

“…The internal validity of these measurements is likely to be high because they were performed using standardized protocols that were identical in the two studies. When we considered the external generalizability of our data, it was surprising that the percentage of overweight and obese participants (11.4%) in this seemingly high‐risk study population was lower than in the average German population (4–10 years old, 14.9% ; 11–17 years old, 18.9% ), and that the daily time spent in MVPA seemed relatively high. Our data covered a broad age range of MVPA measurements, and we accommodated potential age‐ and sex‐specific differences in both MVPA and all the outcome variables.…”

Cancers Potentially Preventable through Excess Weight Reduction in Germany in 2010

“…Nevertheless, it remains unknown whether effective interventions to decrease body weight in adult populations will reduce cancer incidence [43]. Some support for the effectiveness of interventions comes from prospective cohorts investigating intentional weight loss and cancer risk [47,48], as well as from findings of reduced cancer incidence after bariatric surgery in morbidly obese patients [49]. …”