title: Prevalence and correlates of obesity in preschool children.
abstract: Obesity, a common nutritional disorder in childhood, is a complex problem that is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of obesity in preschool children, and to examine the relationships between obesity and gender, race, socioeconomic status, and health problems. Data were collected from 309 charts of children enrolled in a Head Start program. Ninety-nine (32%) of the children were obese. Obese children had significantly higher blood pressure readings than those who were not obese. This study represents a beginning effort to learn more about the prevalence of, and factors associated with, obesity in preschoolers.
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, College of Medicine, Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, College of Nursing, Gainesville, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Uphold
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Singer
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000451:nursing; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors