Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Epidemiology of Obesity in Children and Adolescents pp 43–68Cite as

Childhood Obesity in the WHO European Region

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Springer Series on Epidemiology and Public Health ((SSEH,volume 2))

Abstract

Overweight and obesity in most countries of Europe show rising secular trends and are predicted to continue rising if counteracting measures are not taken (Wan et al. 2007). In the European Union, the number of children who are overweight is expected to rise by 1.3 million children per year, with more than 300,000 of them becoming obese each year (Kosti and Panagiotakos 2006). Obesity is a multifactorial disease with a complex etiology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Almerich-Silla, J.M., & Montiel-Company J.M. (2007). Influence of immigration and other factors on caries in 12- and 15-yr-old children. European Journal of Oral Sciences, 115, 378–383.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Angelopoulos, P.D., Milionis, H.J., Moschonis, G., & Manios, Y. (2006). Relations between obesity and hypertension: preliminary data from a cross-sectional study in primary schoolchildren: the children study. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 60, 1226–1234.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arenz, S., Ruckerl, R., Koletzko, B., & von Kries, R. (2004). Breast-feeding and childhood obesity − a systematic review. International Journal of Obesity Related Metabolic Disorders, 28, 1247–1256.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bertoncello, C., Cazzaro, R., Ferraresso, A., Mazzer, R., & Moretti, G. (2008). Prevalence of overweight and obesity among school-aged children in urban, rural and mountain areas of the Veneto Region, Italy. Public Health Nutrition, 11, 887–890.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Branner, C.M., Koyama, T., & Jensen, G.L. (2008). Racial and ethnic differences in pediatric obesity-prevention counseling: national prevalence of clinician practices. Obesity (Silver Spring), 16(3), 690–694.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brodersen, N.H., Steptoe, A., Boniface, D.R., & Wardle, J. (2007). Trends in physical activity and sedentary behaviour in adolescence: ethnic and socioeconomic differences. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 41, 140–144.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chrzanowska, M., Koziel, S., & Ulijaszek, S.J. (2007). Changes in BMI and the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents in Cracow, Poland, 1971–2000. Economic & Human Biology, 5, 370–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cole, T.J., Bellizzi, M.C., Flegal, K.M., & Dietz, W.H. (2000). Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. British Medical Journal, 320, 1240–1243.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crowther, R., Dinsdale, H., Rutter, H., & Kyffin, R. (2007). Analysis of the National Childhood Obesity Database 2005–06. A report for the Department of Health by the South East Public Health Observatory on behalf of the Association of Public Health Observatories NHS, January 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Beer, M., Hofsteenge, G.H., Koot, H.M., Hirasing, R.A., Delemarre-van de Waal, H.A., & Gemke, R.J. (2007). Health-related-quality-of-life in obese adolescents is decreased and inversely related to BMI. Acta Pediatrica, 96, 710–714.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Onis, M., Onyango, A.W., Borghi, E., Garza, C., & Yang, H. (2006). Comparison of the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards and the National Center for Health Statistics/WHO international growth reference: implications for child health programmes. Public Health Nutrition, 9, 942–947.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DiPietro, L., Mossberg, H.O., & Stunkard, A.J. (1994). A 40-year history of overweight children in Stockholm: life-time overweight, morbidity, and mortality. International Journal of Obesity Related Metabolic Disorders, 18, 585–590.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drewnowski, A., Monsivais, P., Maillot, M., & Darmon, N. (2007). Low-energy-density diets are associated with higher diet quality and higher diet costs in French adults. Journal of the American Dietetics Association, 107, 1028–1032.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, M.J., Al-Nakeeb Y., & Nevill, A.M. (2004). Body esteem and body fat in British school children from different ethnic groups. Body Image, 1, 311–315.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, M.J., Al-Nakeeb, Y., Nevill, A.M., & Jones, M.V. (2006). Body dissatisfaction, body fat and physical activity in British children. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, 1, 89–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, M.J., Woodfield, L., Al-Nakeeb, Y., & Nevill, A.M. (2008). Differences in physical activity levels between white and South asian children in the United kingdom. Pediatric Exercise Science, 20, 285–291.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ekelund, U., Brage, S., Froberg, K., Harro, M., Anderssen, S.A., Sardinha, L.B., Riddoch, C., & Andersen, L.B. (2006). TV viewing and physical activity are independently associated with metabolic risk in children: the European Youth Heart Study. PLoS Medicine, 3(12), e488.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Farrow, C.V., & Blissett, J. (2008). Controlling feeding practices: cause or consequence of early child weight? Pediatrics, 121, e164–e169.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Flynn, K.J., & Fitzgibbon, M. (1998). Body images and obesity risk among black females: a review of the literature. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 20, 13–24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Franks, P.W., Hanson, R.L., Knowler, W.C., Moffett, C., Enos, G., Infante, A.M., Krakoff, J., & Looker, H.C. (2007). Childhood predictors of young onset type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes, DOI: 10.2337/db06-1639.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fredriks, A.M., Van Buuren, S., Sing, R.A., Wit, J.M., & Verloove-Vanhorick, S.P. (2005). Alarming prevalences of overweight and obesity for children of Turkish, Moroccan and Dutch origin in The Netherlands according to international standards. Acta Pediatrica, 94, 496–498.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, D.S., Khan, L.K., Serdula, M.K., Dietz, W.H., Srinivasan, S.R., & Berenson, G.S. (2004). Inter-relationships among childhood BMI, childhood height, and adult obesity: the Bogalusa Heart Study. International Journal of Obesity Related Metabolic Disorders, 28, 10–16.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, D.S., Khan, L.K., Serdula, M.K., Ogden, C.L., & Dietz, W.H. (2006). Racial and ethnic differences in secular trends for childhood BMI, weight, and height. Obesity (Silver Spring), 14, 301–308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frye, C., & Heinrich, J. (2003). Trends and predictors of overweight and obesity in East German children. International Journals of Obesity Related Metabolic Disorders, 27, 963–969.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Galcheva, S.V., Iotova, V.M., & Stratev, V.K. (2008). Television food advertising directed towards Bulgarian children. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 93, 857–861.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, S. (2008). Sugar-sweetened soft drinks and obesity: a systematic review of the evidence from observational studies and interventions. Nutrition Research Review, 21, 134–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guillaume, M., Lapidus, L., Beckers, F., Lambert, A., & Bjorntorp, P. (1995). Familial trends of obesity through three generations: the Belgian-Luxembourg child study. International Journal of Obesity Related Metabolic Disorders, 19(Suppl 3), S5–S9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hakanen, M., Lagstrom, H., Kaitosaari, T., Niinikoski, H., Nanto-Salonen K., Jokinen, E., Sillanmaki, L., Viikari, J., Ronnemaa, T., & Simell, O. (2006). Development of overweight in an atherosclerosis prevention trial starting in early childhood. The STRIP study. International Journal of Obesity (Lond), 30, 618–626.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halford, J.C., Boyland, E.J., Hughes, G., Oliveira, L.P., & Dovey, T.M. (2007). Beyond-brand effect of television (TV) food advertisements/commercials on caloric intake and food choice of 5-7-year-old children. Appetite, 49, 263–267.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harder, T., Bergmann, R., Kallischnigg, G., & Plagemann, A. (2005). Duration of breastfeeding and risk of overweight: a meta-analysis. American Journal of Epidemiology, 162, 397–403.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hassapidou, M., Fotiadou, E., Maglara, E., & Papadopoulou, S.K. (2006). Energy intake, diet composition, energy expenditure, and body fatness of adolescents in northern Greece. Obesity (Silver Spring), 14, 855–862.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkes, C. (2005). The role of foreign direct investment in the nutrition transition. Public Health Nutrition, 8, 357–365.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holmback, U., Fridman, J., Gustafsson, J., Proos, L., Sundelin, C., & Forslund, A. (2007). Overweight more prevalent among children than among adolescents. Acta Paediatrica, 96, 577–581.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huerta, M., Gdalevich, M., Haviv, J., Bibi, H., & Scharf, S. (2006). Ten-year trends in obesity among Israeli schoolchildren: 1990-2000. Acta Paediatrica, 95, 444–449.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • IASO/IOTF (2007). Database on overweight and obesity. International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO)/International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), London, http://www.iotf.org/database/index.asp.

  • Jackson-Leach, R., & Lobstein, T. (2006). Estimated burden of paediatric obesity and co-morbidities in Europe. Part 1. The increase in the prevalence of child obesity in Europe is itself increasing. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, 1, 26–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jakimaviciene, E.M., & Tutkuviene, J. (2007). Trends in body mass index, prevalence of overweight and obesity in preschool Lithuanian children, 1986-2006. College Antropology, 31, 79–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janicke, D.M., Marciel, K.K., Ingerski, L.M., Novoa, W., Lowry, K.W., Sallinen, B.J., & Silverstein, J.H. (2007). Impact of psychosocial factors on quality of life in overweight youth. Obesity (Silver Spring), 15, 1799–1807.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jebb, S.A., Rennie, K.L., & Cole, T.J. (2004). Prevalence of overweight and obesity among young people in Great Britain. Public Health Nutrition, 7, 461–465.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Juliusson, P.B., Roelants, M., Eide, G.E., Hauspie, R., Waaler, P.E., & Bjerknes, R. (2007). Overweight and obesity in Norwegian children: secular trends in weight-for-height and skinfolds. Acta Paediatrica, 96, 1333–1337.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kautiainen, S., Rimpela, A., Vikat, A., & Virtanen, S.M. (2002). Secular trends in overweight and obesity among Finnish adolescents in 1977-1999. International Journal of Obesity Related Metabolic Disorders, 26, 544–552.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kautiainen, S., Koivusilta, L., Lintonen, T., Virtanen, S.M., & Rimpela, A. (2005). Use of information and communication technology and prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents. International Journal of Obesity (Lond), 29, 925–933.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kemper, K.A., Sargent, R.C., Drane, J.W., Valois, R.F., & Hussey, J.R. (1994). Black and white females’ perceptions of ideal body size and social norms. Obesity Research, 2, 117–126.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kern, B. (2007). The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Hungarian children. Intensive Course in Biological Anthropology, 1st Summer School of the European Anthropological Association, 16–30 June, 2007, Prague, Czech Republic EAA Summer School eBook 1:181–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • KIGGS (2006). German children and youth health survey 2006. http://www.kiggs.de.

  • Kirchengast, S., & Schober, E. (2006a). Obesity among female adolescents in Vienna, Austria – the impact of childhood weight status and ethnicity. British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 113, 1188–1194.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kirchengast, S., & Schober, E. (2006b). To be an immigrant: a risk factor for developing overweight and obesity during childhood and adolescence? Journal of Biosocial Science, 38, 695–705.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Knai, C., Suhrcke, M., & Lobstein, T. (2007). Obesity in Eastern Europe: an overview of its health and economic implications. Economics of Human Biology, 5, 392–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kontogianni, M.D., Vidra, N., Farmaki, A.E., Koinaki, S., Belogianni, K., Sofrona, S., Magkanari, F., & Yannakoulia, M. (2008). Adherence rates to the Mediterranean diet are low in a representative sample of Greek children and adolescents. Journal of Nutrition, 138, 1951–1956.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kosti, R.I., & Panagiotakos, D.B. (2006). The epidemic of obesity in children and adolescents in the world. Central European Journal of Public Health, 14, 151–159.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kromeyer-Hauschild, K., & Zellner, K. (2007). Trends in overweight and obesity and changes in the distribution of body mass index in schoolchildren of Jena, East Germany. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 61, 404–411.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kromeyer-Hauschild, K., Wabitsch, M., Kunze, D., Geller, F., Geiß, H.C., Hesse, V., von Hippel, A., Jaeger, U., Johnsen, D., Korte, W., Menner, K., Müller, G., Müller, J.M., Niemann-Pilatus, A., Remer, T., Schaefer, F., Wittchen, H.-U., Zabransky, S., Zellner, K., Ziegler, A., & Hebebrand, J. (2001). Perzentile für den Body-Mass-Index für das Kindes- und Jugendalter unter Heranziehung verschiedener deutscher Stichproben. Monatsschrift für Kinderheilkunde, 149, 807–818.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuczmarski, R.J., Ogden, C.L., Guo, S.S., Grummer-Strawn, L.M., Flegal, K.M., Mei, Z., Wei, R., Curtin, L.R., Roche, A.F., & Johnson, C.L. (2002). 2000 CDC Growth Charts for the United States: methods and development. Vital Health Statistics, 11, 1–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumanyika, S.K. (2008). Environmental influences on childhood obesity: Ethnic and cultural influences in context. Physiology & Behaviour, 94(1), 61–70.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kurth, B.M., & Schaffrath Rosario, A. (2007). The prevalence of overweight and obese children and adolescents living in Germany. Results of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS). (In German) Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz, 50, 736–743.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larranaga, N., Amiano, P., Arrizabalaga, J., Bidaurrazaga, J. J., & Gorostiza E. (2007). Prevalence of obesity in 4-18-year-old population in the Basque Country, Spain. Obesity Reviews, 8, 281–287.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lasserre, A.M., Chiolero, A., Paccaud, F., & Bovet, P. (2007). Worldwide trends in childhood obesity. Swiss Medical Weekly, 137, 157–158.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Linardakis, M., Sarri, K., Pateraki, M.S., Sbokos, M., & Kafatos, A. (2008). Sugar-added beverages consumption among kindergarten children of Crete: effects on nutritional status and risk of obesity. BMC, Public Health, 8, 279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lioret, S., Maire, B., Volatier, J.L., & Charles, M.A. (2007). Child overweight in France and its relationship with physical activity, sedentary behaviour and socioeconomic status. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 61, 509–516.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lissau, I., Overpeck, M.D., Ruan, W.J., Due, P., Holstein, B.E., & Hediger, M.L. (2004). Body mass index and overweight in adolescents in 13 European countries, Israel, and the United States. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 158, 27–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lobstein, T., & Frelut, M.L. (2003). Prevalence of overweight among children in Europe. Obesity Reviews, 4, 195–200.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lobstein, T., & Millstone, E. (2006). Policy options for responding to obesity: evaluating the options. Summary report of the EC-funded project to map the views of stakeholders involved in tackling obesity – the PorGrow project. Brighton, University of Sussex, Science and Technology Policy Research (SPRU), NEST (New and emerging science and technology), DG Research, European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luciano, A., Livieri, C., Di Pietro, M.E., Bergamaschi, G., & Maffeis, C. (2003). Definition of obesity in childhood: criteria and limits. Minerva Pediatrica, 55, 453–459.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Magarey, A.M., Daniels, L.A., Boulton, T.J., & Cockington, R.A. (2003). Predicting obesity in early adulthood from childhood and parental obesity. International Journal of Obesity Related Metabolic Disorders, 27, 505–513.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Magkos, F., Manios, Y., Christakis, G., & Kafatos, A.G. (2006). Age-dependent changes in body size of Greek boys from 1982 to 2002. Obesity (Silver Spring), 14, 289–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maillot, M., Darmon, N., Vieux, F., & Drewnowski, A. (2007). Low energy density and high nutritional quality are each associated with higher diet costs in French adults. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 86, 690–696.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manios,Y., Yiannakouris, N., Papoutsakis, C., Moschonis, G., Magkos, F., Skenderi, K., & Zampelas, A. (2004). Behavioral and physiological indices related to BMI in a cohort of primary schoolchildren in Greece. American Journal of Human Biology, 16, 639–647.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manios, Y., Magkos, F., Christakis, G., & Kafatos. A.G. (2005). Twenty-year dynamics in adiposity and blood lipids of Greek children: regional differences in Crete persist. Acta Paediatrica, 94, 859–865.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manios, Y., Costarelli, V., Kolotourou, M., Kondakis, K., Tzavara, C., & Moschonis, G. (2007). Prevalence of obesity in preschool Greek children, in relation to parental characteristics and region of residence. BMC Public Health, 7, 178.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, A.E. (2008). Children and obesity: a pan-European project examining the role of food marketing. European Journal of Public Health, 18, 7–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matusik, P., Malecka-Tendera, E., & Klimek, K. (2007). Nutritional state of Polish prepubertal children assessed by population-specific and international standards. Acta Paediatrica, 96, 276–280.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mendoza, J.A., Drewnowski, A., Cheadle, A., & Christakis, D.A. (2006). Dietary energy density is associated with selected predictors of obesity in U.S. Children. Journal of Nutrition, 136, 1318–1322.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Monsivais, P., & Drewnowski, A. (2007). The rising cost of low-energy-density foods. Journal of the American Dietetics Association, 107, 2071–2076.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monteiro, P.O., & Victora, C.G. (2005). Rapid growth in infancy and childhood and obesity in later life-a systematic review. Obesity Reviews, 6, 143–154.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno, L.A., & Rodriguez, G. (2007). Dietary risk factors for development of childhood obesity. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, 10, 336–341.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno, L.A., Sarria, A., Fleta, J., Rodriguez, G., & Bueno, M. (2000). Trends in body mass index and overweight prevalence among children and adolescents in the region of Aragon (Spain) from 1985 to 1995. International Journal of Obesity Related Metabolic Disorders, 24, 925–931.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno, L.A., Fleta, J., Sarria, A., Rodriguez, G., & Bueno, M. (2001a). Secular increases in body fat percentage in male children of Zaragoza, Spain, 1980-1995. Preventive Medicine, 33, 357–363.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno, L.A., Fleta, J., Sarria, A., Rodriguez, G., Gil, C., & Bueno M. (2001b). Secular changes in body fat patterning in children and adolescents of Zaragoza (Spain), 1980-1995. International Journal of Obesity Related Metabolic Disorders, 25, 1656–1660.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno, L.A., Sarria, A., Fleta, J., Rodriguez, G., Gonzalez, J.M., & Bueno, M. (2001c). Sociodemographic factors and trends on overweight prevalence in children and adolescents in Aragon (Spain) from 1985 to 1995. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 54, 921–927.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno, L.A., Mesana, M.I., Fleta, J., Ruiz, J.R., Gonzalez-Gross, M., Sarria, A., Marcos, A., & Bueno, M. (2005a). Overweight, obesity and body fat composition in Spanish adolescents. The AVENA Study. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 49, 71–76.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno, L.A., Sarria A., Fleta, J., Marcos, A., & Bueno, M. (2005b). Secular trends in waist circumference in Spanish adolescents, 1995 to 2000-02. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 90, 818–819.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moschonis, G., Grammatikaki, E., & Manios, Y. (2008). Perinatal predictors of overweight at infancy and preschool childhood: the GENESIS study. International Journal of Obesity (Lond), 32, 39–47.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mutunga, M., Gallagher, A.M., Boreham, C., Watkins, D.C., Murray, L.J., Cran, G., & Reilly, J.J. (2006). Socioeconomic differences in risk factors for obesity in adolescents in Northern Ireland. International Journal of Paediatric Obesity, 1, 114–119.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nieto, F.J., Szklo, M., & Comstock, G.W. (1992). Childhood weight and growth rate as predictors of adult mortality. American Journal of Epidemiology, 136, 201–213.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Neill, J.L., McCarthy, S.N., Burke, S.J., Hannon, E.M., Kiely, M., Flynn, A., Flynn, M.A., & Gibney, M.J. (2007). Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Irish school children, using four different definitions. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 61, 743–751.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ogden, C.L., Kuczmarski, R.J., Flegal, K.M., Mei, Z., Guo, S., Wei, R., Grummer-Strawn, L.M., Curtin, L.R., Roche, A.F., & Johnson, C.L. (2002). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2000 growth charts for the United States: improvements to the 1977 National Center for Health Statistics version. Pediatrics, 109, 45–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ong, K.K. (2006). Size at birth, postnatal growth and risk of obesity. Hormones Research, 65(Suppl 3), 65–69.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Owen, C.G., Martin, R.M., Whincup, P.H., Smith, G.D., & Cook, D.G. (2005). Effect of infant feeding on the risk of obesity across the life course: a quantitative review of published evidence. Paediatrics, 115, 1367–1377.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ozer, B.K. (2007). Growth reference centiles and secular changes in Turkish children and adolescents. Economics & Human Biology, 5, 280–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Padez, C., Fernandes, T., Mourao, I., Moreira, P., & Rosado, V. (2004). Prevalence of overweight and obesity in 7-9-year-old Portuguese children: trends in body mass index from 1970-2002. American Journal of Human Biology, 16, 670–678.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Papadimitriou, A., Kounadi, D., Konstantinidou, M., Xepapadaki, P., & Nicolaidou, P. (2006). Prevalence of obesity in elementary schoolchildren living in Northeast Attica, Greece. Obesity (Silver Spring), 14, 1113–1117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pardee, P.E., Norman, G.J., Lustig, R.H., Preud’homme, D., & Schwimmer, J.B. (2007). Television viewing and hypertension in obese children. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 33, 439–443.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, T.J., Power, C., & Manor, O. (2003). Infant feeding and obesity through the lifecourse. Archives of Diseases in Childhood, 88, 793–794.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pastucha, D., Malincikova, J., Hyjanek, J., Horakova, D., Cizek, L., Janoutova, G., & Janout, V.G. (2007). Obesity and insulin resistance in childhood. Central of European Journal of Public Health, 15, 103–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popkin, B.M., Conde, W., Hou, N., & Monteiro, C. (2006). Is there a lag globally in overweight trends for children compared with adults? Obesity (Silver Spring), 14, 1846–1853.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powell, A.D., & Kahn, A.S. (1995). Racial differences in women’s desires to be thin. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 17, 191–195.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prentice, A.M., & Jebb, S.A. (2003). Fast foods, energy density and obesity: a possible mechanistic link. Obesity Reviews, 4, 187–194.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ramos, E., & Barros, H. (2007). Family and school determinants of overweight in 13-year-old Portuguese adolescents. Acta Paediatrica, 96, 281–286.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rey-Lopez, J.P., Vicente-Rodriguez, G., Biosca, M., & Moreno, LA. (2008). Sedentary behaviour and obesity development in children and adolescents. Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases, 18(3), 242–251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salmon, J., Ball, K., Hume, C., Booth, M., & Crawford, D. (2008). Outcomes of a group-randomized trial to prevent excess weight gain, reduce screen behaviours and promote physical activity in 10-year-old children: Switch-Play. International Journal of Obesity (Lond), 32, 601–612.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Samdal, O., Tynjala, J., Roberts, C., Sallis, J. F., Villberg, J., & Wold, B. (2007). Trends in vigorous physical activity and TV watching of adolescents from 1986 to 2002 in seven European Countries. European Journal of Public Health, 17, 242–248.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Savva, S.C., Kourides, Y., Tornaritis, M., Epiphaniou-Savva, M., Chadjigeorgiou, C., & Kafatos, A. (2002). Obesity in children and adolescents in Cyprus. Prevalence and predisposing factors. International Journal of Obesity Related Metabolic Disorders, 26, 1036–1045.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Savva, S.C., Tornaritis, M., Chadjigeorgiou, C., Kourides, Y.A., Savva, M.E., Panagi, A., Chrictodoulou, E., & Kafatos, A. (2005). Prevalence and socio-demographic associations of undernutrition and obesity among preschool children in Cyprus. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 59, 1259–1265.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stamatakis, E., Primatesta, P., Chinn, S., Rona, R., & Falascheti, E. (2005). Overweight and obesity trends from 1974 to 2003 in English children: what is the role of socioeconomic factors? Archives of Diseases in Childhood, 90, 999–1004.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stone, M.A., Bankart, J., Sinfield, P., Talbot, D., Farooqi, A., Davies, M.J., & Khunti, K. (2007). Dietary habits of young people attending secondary schools serving a multiethnic, inner-city community in the UK. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 83, 115–119.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stunkard, A.J., & Sorensen, T.I. (1993). Obesity and socioeconomic status - a complex relation. New England Journal of Medicine, 329, 1036–1037.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sundblom, E., Petzold, M., Rasmussen, F., Callmer, E., & Lissner, L. (2008). Childhood overweight and obesity prevalences levelling off in Stockholm but socioeconomic differences persist. International Journal of Obesity (Lond), 32, 1525–1530.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sur, H., Kolotourou, M., Dimitriou, M., Kocaoglu, B., Keskin, Y., Hayran, O., & Manios, Y. (2005). Biochemical and behavioral indices related to BMI in schoolchildren in urban Turkey. Preventive Medicine, 41, 614–621.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taveras, E.M., Scanlon, K.S., Birch, L., Rifas-Shiman, S.L., Rich-Edwards, J.W., & Gillman, M.W. (2004). Association of breastfeeding with maternal control of infant feeding at age 1 year. Pediatrics, 114, e577–e583.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tounian, P. (2007). Consequences in adulthood of childhood obesity. Archives in Pediatrics, 14, 718–720.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tutkuviene, J. (2007). Body mass index, prevalence of overweight and obesity in Lithuanian children and adolescents, 1985-2002. College Anthropology, 31, 109–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • van den Hurk, K., van Dommelen, P., van Buuren, S., Verkerk, P.H., & Hirasing, R.A. (2007). Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Netherlands in 2003 compared to 1980 and 1997. Archives of Diseases in Childhood, 92, 992–995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Velluzzi, F., Lai, A., Secci, G., Mastinu, R., Pilleri, A., Cabula, R., Rizzolo, E., Cocco, P.L., Fadda, D., Binaghi, F., Mariotti, S., & Loviselli, A. (2007). Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Sardinian adolescents. Eat & Weight Disorders, 12, e44–e50.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Villa, I., Yngve, A., Poortvliet, E., Grjibovski, A., Liiv, K., Sjostrom, M., & Harro, M. (2007). Dietary intake among under-, normal- and overweight 9- and 15-year-old Estonian and Swedish schoolchildren. Public Health Nutrition, 10, 311–322.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wan, N.J., Mi, J., Wang, T.Y., Duan, J.L., Li, M., Gong, C.X., Du, J.B., Zhao, X.Y., Cheng, H., Hou, D.Q., & Wang, L. (2007). Metabolic syndrome in overweight and obese schoolchildren in Beijing. (In Chinese) Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi (Chinese Journal of Pediatrics), 45, 417–421.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wardle, J., Brodersen, N.H., Cole, T.J., Jarvis, M.J., & Boniface, D.R. (2006). Development of adiposity in adolescence: five year longitudinal study of an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample of young people in Britain. British Medical Journal, 332, 1130–1135.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weaver, L.T. (2006). Rapid growth in infancy: balancing the interests of the child. Journal of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 43, 428–432.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weyermann, M., Brenner, H., & Rothenbacher, D. (2007). Adipokines in human milk and risk of overweight in early childhood: a prospective cohort study. Epidemiology, 18, 722–729.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whelton, H., Harrington, J., Crowley, E., Kelleher, V., Cronin, M., & Perry, I.J. (2007). Prevalence of overweight and obesity on the island of Ireland: results from the North South Survey of Children’s Height, Weight and Body Mass Index, 2002. BMC Public Health, 7, 187.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whitaker, R.C., & Orzol, S.M. (2006). Obesity among US urban preschool children: relationships to race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Archives of Pediatrics Adolescent Medicine, 160, 578–584.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (2005). Core Health Indicators in the WHO European Region. Regional Office for Europe Scherfigsvej 8DK–2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO, ENHIS (2007). ENHIS, version 1.8 (21 October 2008); http://www.enhis.org/object_document/o4745n27385.html.

  • WHO Global InfoBase online [online database] (2007). Geneva, World Health Organization.

    Google Scholar 

  • Will, B., Zeeb, H., & Baune, B.T. (2005). Overweight and obesity at school entry among migrant and German children: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 5, 45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, C.M., Parker, L., Lamont, D., & Craft, A.W. (2001). Implications of childhood obesity for adult health: findings from thousand families cohort study. British Medical Journal, 323, 1280–1284.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, C., Lakshman, R., Emmett, P., & Ong, K. (2008). Implications of adopting the WHO 2006 Child Growth Standard in the UK: two prospective cohort studies. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 93(7), 566–569.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yngve, A., & Sjostrom, M. (2001). Breastfeeding in countries of the European Union and EFTA: current and proposed recommendations, rationale, prevalence, duration and trends. Public Health Nutrition, 4, 631–645.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zeller, M., & Daniels, S. (2004). The obesity epidemic: family matters. Journal of Paediatrics, 145, 3–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmermann, M.B., Hess, S.Y., & Hurrell, R.F. (2000). A national study of the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 6-12 y-old Swiss children: body mass index, body-weight perceptions and goals. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 54, 568–572.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, 70, E.Venizelou Avenue, Kallithea, Athens, 17671, Greece

    Yannis Manios

  2. Department of Home Economics & Ecology, Harokopio University of Athens, 70, E.Venizelou Avenue, Kallithea, Athens, 17671, Greece

    Vassiliki Costarelli

Authors
  1. Yannis Manios
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vassiliki Costarelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yannis Manios .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fac. Ciencias, Inst. Ciencia de Materiales de Aragon, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50009, Spain

    Luis A. Moreno

  2. FB Mathematik und Informatik, Inst. Statistik, Univ. Bremen, Bibliothekstr. 1, Bremen, 28359, Germany

    Iris Pigeot

  3. und Sozialmedizin (BIPS), Bremer Institut für Präventionsforschung, Linzer Str. 8-10, Bremen, 28359, Germany

    Wolfgang Ahrens

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Manios, Y., Costarelli, V. (2011). Childhood Obesity in the WHO European Region. In: Moreno, L., Pigeot, I., Ahrens, W. (eds) Epidemiology of Obesity in Children and Adolescents. Springer Series on Epidemiology and Public Health, vol 2. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6039-9_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6039-9_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-6038-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-6039-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation