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Pediatric adiposity stabilized in Switzerland between 1999 and 2012

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Abstract

Purpose

Several countries have recently reported stabilization and/or a decrease in the prevalence of pediatric obesity. However, systematic, repeated national monitoring studies are scarce, and it is unclear whether this trend would be sustained. The objective was to present the latest overweight and obesity prevalence in Swiss children and to investigate trends in prevalence from 1999 to 2012.

Methods

Using probability-proportionate-to-size cluster sampling, nationally representative samples of children aged 6–12 years were recruited in 1999 (n = 594), 2002 (n = 2,493), 2004 (n = 328), 2007 (n = 2,218), 2009 (n = 907), and 2012 (n = 2,963). Height and weight were measured to calculate BMI (kg/m2). BMI cutoffs proposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and by the International Obesity Task Force were used to determine the prevalence of overweight (excluding obesity) and obesity. Waist circumference was measured in 2007 and 2012, and multiple skinfold thicknesses assessed in 2002 and 2012.

Results

Using the CDC criteria, prevalences of overweight and obesity in 2012 were 11.9 % (95 % CI 10.7–13.1) and 7.1 % (95 % CI 6.2–8.0), respectively, and did not change between 1999 and 2012 (β = −0.144, p = 0.293 and β = −0.063, p = 0.552, respectively). Boys had significantly higher obesity prevalence than girls in 2007 (5.6 vs. 3.4 %) and 2012 (8.1 vs. 5.9 %). Percentage of children with excess waist circumference and body fat percentage did not differ between 2007 and 2012, and 2002 and 2012, respectively.

Conclusion

Our data indicate the prevalence of childhood adiposity in Switzerland stabilized between 1999 and 2012, but ≈1 in 5 children remain overweight or obese and further efforts are needed to control the epidemic.

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Abbreviations

%BF:

Body fat percentage

BMI-SDS:

BMI standard deviation scores

CDC:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

D :

Body density

IOTF:

International Obesity Task Force

PPS:

Probability-proportionate-to-size

SFT:

Skinfold thicknesses

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the principals of all participating schools as well as all teachers and children for their cooperation. Furthermore, we thank Regula Schüpbach, Jasmin Zimmermann, Jasmin Tajeri Foman, and Sara Stinca for their assistance in the study. Financial support for the study was provided by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (Bern, Switzerland). The authors’ responsibilities were as follows: SBM, MBZ, and IA designed research; SBM and SS conducted research; SBM analyzed data; SBM, MBZ, and IA wrote the paper; SBM, MBZ, and IA had primary responsibility for final content. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Nutrition Laboratory, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Stefanie B. Murer, Siret Saarsalu, Michael B. Zimmermann & Isabelle Aeberli

  2. Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Clinical Nutrition, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Isabelle Aeberli

  3. Schmelzbergstrasse 7, LFV D27.2, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    Stefanie B. Murer

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  1. Stefanie B. Murer
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  2. Siret Saarsalu
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Correspondence to Stefanie B. Murer.

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Murer, S.B., Saarsalu, S., Zimmermann, M.B. et al. Pediatric adiposity stabilized in Switzerland between 1999 and 2012. Eur J Nutr 53, 865–875 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-013-0590-y

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