Overweight and obesity in Irish primary schools: retrospective cohort study.
BACKGROUND
This retrospective cohort study investigates the feasibility of using established methods and routinely generated data from the statutory primary school health-screening programme to estimate prevalence rates for childhood overweight and obesity in children from a rural area in the Republic of Ireland (ROI).


METHODS
Paper-based records in the primary school health service for County Leitrim and parts of County Cavan in north-west of ROI were hand searched to identify children attending senior infant classes during academic year 2001/2002. Electronic calculation of body mass index (BMI) and age at examination was carried out. Application of age- and sex-specific cut-off points from International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and United Kingdom (UK) standard definitions for childhood overweight and obesity was used to determine age- and sex-specific prevalence rates for childhood overweight and obesity.


RESULTS
The eligible cohort was almost completely identified and consisted of 361 children. Weight and height measurements were available on 328 (91%) children aged between 4.22 and 7.92 years. IOTF standard application gave prevalence rates of 25% for obesity and overweight in boys and 26% in girls. With the UK growth standard, this increased to 34% in boys and reduced to 23% in girls.


CONCLUSIONS
It is feasible to generate prevalence rates for childhood overweight and obesity from data routinely obtained through the statutory school health-screening programme in ROI. This study suggests levels of childhood overweight and obesity comparable to other Western societies. Further research on developing a universally accepted standard definition of childhood overweight and obesity is required.
McMaster
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Regional Child and Adolescent Health Development Officer, Regional Children's Services, Health Service Executive North Western Area, Old Church, Drumany, Letterkenny, County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. Christina.McMaster@mailb.hse.ie
Cullen
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L
Raymond
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N
D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012423:Rural Health; D012572:School Health Services; D017678:Sex Distribution