title: Trends in childhood and adolescent obesity prevalence in Oviedo (Asturias, Spain) 1992-2006.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse obesity and overweight prevalence trend in Oviedo (Spain) during the last 14 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two cross-sectional studies were conducted in the same five public schools of the urban area of Oviedo in 1992 and 2004-06. One thousand one hundred sixty-five children and young adults between the age of 6 and 17 years were studied in 1992 and 1312 in 2004-06. Obesity and overweight were defined according to the International Obesity Task Force cut-off values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body mass index (BMI) values (20.5+/-3.6 vs. 20.1+/-3.3 p=0.02) and obesity prevalence (6.3% vs. 4.5% p<0.05) were significantly higher in the 2004-06 cohort, while overweight prevalence showed a non-significant increase. Obesity prevalence increased in both sexes in the 6-11-year group. In adolescent females, a four-fold increase was observed, from 0.9% in 1992 (95% CI: -0.1 to 1.9) to 3.8% in 2004-06 (95% CI: 1.8-6). A slight non-significant decrease was observed in adolescent males (6.6% in 1992 to 5.8% in 2004-06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity and overweight are increasing in children and adolescents in Oviedo at a level similar to that observed in studies conducted in developed countries. This obesity epidemic is becoming an important public health issue.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital San Agustín, Avilés, Spain. jjdiaz@telecable.es
authors.forename: Juan José Díaz
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Laura Somalo
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Mónica García
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Carmen Perillán
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.forename: Corsino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rey Galán
authors.forename: Serafín Málaga
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Guerrero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology