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Prevalence of thinness among children and adolescents in Shandong, China

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Abstract

Purpose

Thinness in children and adolescents poses a considerable public health problem globally, especially in developing countries. The present study examined the prevalence of thinness among children and adolescents in Shandong, China.

Methods

Data for this study were obtained from a large cross-sectional survey of schoolchildren. A total of 42,348 students (21,248 boys and 21,100 girls) aged 7–18 years participated in this study. Stature and weight of all subjects were measured; body mass index (BMI) was calculated from their stature and weight. International BMI cutoffs were used to define thinness.

Results

The overall prevalences of thinness grade 1, grade 2 and grade 3 among children and adolescents aged 7–18 years were 7.74, 1.43 and 0.61 % for boys and 11.51, 2.54 and 1.03 % for girls, respectively; these figures were all significantly higher in girls than in boys (P < 0.01). Thin children and adolescents had lower stature levels than their counterparts in not thin group in all age groups (7–18 years).

Conclusion

The prevalence of childhood thinness is still wide in Shandong Province, and public health and nutritional strategies must give attention to the intervention for thinness, including periodic monitoring, education on pattern of nutrition and healthy dietary behavior.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the medical and health program of Shandong, China (2014WS0376). Surveys on students’ constitution and health are conducted under the auspices of the department of education in Shandong Province, China. We thank all the team members and all participants. Special thanks to Mr. B. Yu for providing access to the survey data.

Conflict of interest

There are no conflicts of interest on behalf of any of the authors.

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Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong University Institute of Preventive Medicine, 16992 Jingshi Road, Jinan, 250014, Shandong, China

      Ying-xiu Zhang, Mei Wang & Li Xie

    2. Yantai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong, China

      Zhao-xia Wang

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    1. Ying-xiu Zhang
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    2. Zhao-xia Wang
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    3. Mei Wang
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    4. Li Xie
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    Corresponding author

    Correspondence to Ying-xiu Zhang.

    Additional information

    Zhao-xia Wang and Ying-xiu Zhang have contributed equally to this work.

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    Zhang, Yx., Wang, Zx., Wang, M. et al. Prevalence of thinness among children and adolescents in Shandong, China. Eur J Nutr 55, 809–813 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-015-0902-5

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