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Prevalence of overweight, obesity and low weight in the Czech child population up to 18 years of age in the last 50 years

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Abstract

Aim

The main purpose of the study was to analyze the changes in the prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity among Czech children and adolescents aged 3–18 within the last 50 years. The secondary purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in 2001 and compare it to the reference standards recommended by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF).

Subject and methods

Anthropometric data collected from nationally representative samples of 3–18-year-old children and adolescents in the Czech Republic in 1951, 1981, 1991, and 2001 were analyzed in the study. The prevalence of child overweight and obesity among Czech children using data from the most recent 2001 National Anthropological Survey was estimated using the 1991 Czech reference values and the IOTF standards.

Results

There has been a gradual increase in the number of children in both extreme categories of BMI values in most age categories, including underweight (<10th percentile), overweight (>90th percentile), and obesity (>97th percentile) between 1951 and 2001. In both genders, the number of underweight children increased dramatically in the lowest age categories. At the same time, the rates of overweight and obesity increased among 6–11- and 11–15-year-old individuals. The prevalence of underweight has also increased among older adolescents. However, our study indicated that the 2001 prevalence of overweight/obesity among Czech adolescents, especially in older age categories and among girls, was lower compared to the 1991 reference values.

Conclusion

Given the continuous increase in child obesity rates in the US and most of Europe, it is interesting that the prevalence of overweight and obesity has remained relatively low among children and adolescents in the Czech Republic. Given the increased number of Czech school-aged children with excess adiposity, a gradual rise in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Czech adolescents could be expected.

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Acknowledgement

The study was supported by the grant No. NR/7857–3 of the Internal Grant Agency of Ministry of Health, Czech Republic.

Conflcit of interest statement

The authors disclose any relevant associations that might pose a conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Public Health Worker, Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, National Institute of Public Health, Šrobárova 48, 100 42, Praha 10, Czech Republic

    J. Vignerová & M. Paulová

  2. Department of Nutritional Sciences, 311 Human Environmental Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA

    L. Humeníková

  3. Departmentt of Anatomy,3th Medical Faculty, Charles University in Prague, Ruská 87, 100 00, Praha 10, Czech Republic

    J. Riedlová

Authors
  1. J. Vignerová
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  2. L. Humeníková
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  3. M. Paulová
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  4. J. Riedlová
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Correspondence to J. Vignerová.

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Vignerová, J., Humeníková, L., Paulová, M. et al. Prevalence of overweight, obesity and low weight in the Czech child population up to 18 years of age in the last 50 years. J Public Health 16, 413–420 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-008-0193-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-008-0193-x

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