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Trends in Underweight and Overweight/Obesity Prevalence in Chinese Youth, 2004–2009

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Abstract

Background

There is a paucity of recent data on Chinese childhood overweight and underweight prevalence especially since 2004.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine trends in underweight and overweight/obesity (“overweight” hereafter) prevalence and energy balance-related behaviors of Chinese youth from 2004 to 2009.

Methods

Data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, 2004–2009 (N = 4,061 students aged 6–18 years), were analyzed. Trained health workers took anthropometric measures at the participant’s house or at a local clinic following a reference protocol recommended by the World Health Organization. The international age- and sex-specific body mass index reference standard proposed by the International Obesity Task Force was used to define underweight and overweight children in this study.

Results

Among 6- to 11-year-old boys, underweight prevalence increased from 14.5 % (2004) to 20.1 % (2009, p = 0.068). Among 12- to 18-year-old boys, however, overweight prevalence increased from 7.5 to 12.6 % (p = 0.034). From 2004 to 2009, after-school sedentary behavior increased from 2.3 to 3.4 h/day for 6- to 11-year-olds (p < 0.001) and from 2.2 to 3.1 h/day for 12- to 18-year-olds (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, the total energy intake decreased 7 % for 6- to 11-year-olds (p < 0.05) and 10 % for 12- to 18-year-olds (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Both underweight and overweight Chinese students are increasing, with underweight increases more pronounced in 6- to 11-year-olds and overweight increases more pronounced in 12- to 18-year-olds. Nationwide efficacious interventions are needed that improve the diet, decrease sedentary behavior, and encourage a healthy and realistic body image in Chinese youth.

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Acknowledgment

This research uses data from China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). We thank the National Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Carolina Population Center, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the NIH (R01-HD30880, DK056350, and R01-HD38700), and the Fogarty International Center, NIH, for financial support for the CHNS data collection and analysis files from 1989 to 2006 and both parties plus the China–Japan Friendship Hospital, Ministry of Health, for support for CHNS 2009 and future surveys.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Health Sciences, Ewha Womans University, 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Soedaemoon-gu, Seoul, 120-750, South Korea

    Dong-Chul Seo

  2. Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health, Bloomington, IN, USA

    Jingjing Niu

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  1. Dong-Chul Seo
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  2. Jingjing Niu
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Correspondence to Dong-Chul Seo.

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Seo, DC., Niu, J. Trends in Underweight and Overweight/Obesity Prevalence in Chinese Youth, 2004–2009. Int.J. Behav. Med. 21, 682–690 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-013-9322-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-013-9322-1

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