The prevalence of overweight and obese children aged 6-17 years in the West Black Sea region of Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of overweight and obese Turkish children.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study in school children.


METHODS
A total of 6924 children (3281 boys and 3643 girls) aged 6-17 years from the West Black Sea region of Turkey.


METHODS
Overweight and obese were defined using international age- and sex-specific cutoff points for body mass index. The data were analysed by age, sex, residence and socioeconomic level.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was 10.3% and 6.1% respectively. The overall prevalence of obesity in boys and girls was 7.0% and 5.4%, respectively, and the difference was significant (chi(2) = 8, p = 0.004). The prevalence of obesity in urban and rural areas was 7.7% and 3.9%, respectively, and the difference was significant (chi(2) = 40, p < 0.001). The prevalence of overweight boys and girls in urban areas was 11.6% and 13.2%, respectively, but the difference was not significant (chi(2) = 2, p > 0.05). However, the prevalence of overweight boys and girls in rural areas was 4.8% and 9.4%, respectively, and the difference was significant (chi(2) = 25, p < 0.001). Although the prevalence of obesity differed significantly between boys and girls in urban children (chi(2) = 13, p < 0.001), no significant difference was detected in the prevalence between boys and girls from rural areas (chi(2) = 0.4, p > 0.5). The prevalence of obesity was significantly higher in private schools than in public schools (chi(2) = 48, p < 0.0001). The prevalence of overweight and obese Turkish children aged 6-17 years is considerably lower than in most European countries. The children in urban settings and higher socioeconomic groups had a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity. The Westernisation of the behaviour patterns of children and living in an urban setting in a developing country are risk factors for obesity.
Simsek
E
E
Department of Pediatrics, Duzce University School of Medicine, Duzce, Turkey. enversimsek06@hotmail.com
Akpinar
S
S
Bahcebasi
T
T
Senses
D A
DA
Kocabay
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data