[Increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in Dutch children, and the detection of overweight and obesity using international criteria and new reference diagrams].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Dutch children in 1980 and 1997 according to international criteria, and to design new reference diagrams for overweight and obesity in children.


METHODS
Descriptive.


METHODS
The prevalence of overweight and obesity, based on height and weight data from the Fourth Dutch Growth Study (1997), was determined according to international criteria for age and sex.


RESULTS
In 1997, the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased in both boys and girls compared to 1980: in 1997, the prevalence of overweight ranged between 7.1 and 15.5% for boys, and between 8.2 and 16.1% for girls. Both the prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher in girls than in boys.


CONCLUSIONS
By applying the international criteria for overweight and obesity and reference growth diagrams based upon the 1997 Dutch growth study, the prevention and detection of overweight and obesity has to be implemented with vigour in Dutch youth health care.
Hirasing
R A
RA
Vrije Universiteit, afd. Sociale Geneeskunde, Instituut voor Extramuraal Geneeskundig Onderzoek, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam. jgzalgemeen@gggd.amsterdam.nl
Fredriks
A M
AM
van Buuren
S
S
Verloove-Vanhorick
S P
SP
Wit
J M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012015:Reference Standards; D012016:Reference Values; D012494:Sampling Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution