title: Obesity and cholesterol in Japanese, French, and U.S. children.
abstract: The number of children at risk for overweight/obesity has increased dramatically in the last decade worldwide. This study compares measures of obesity (body mass index [BMI] and body fat percentage) and total cholesterol in 4,013 fourth-grade students from three countries, France, Japan, and the United States. Data were analyzed using t test, chi-square, and analysis of variance to determine differences between groups and by multiple linear regression. All variables differed significantly by group. BMI was highest in U.S. children. Body fat percentage was also highest in U.S. children and lowest in French children. Total cholesterol was highest in French children and lowest in U.S. White children. There were modest but significant associations between BMI and cholesterol in all groups except French children; associations varied by gender. Results indicate there was great variation in measures of obesity and cholesterol by country. The association between obesity and cholesterol may vary by culture, ethnicity, and gender.
authors.affiliation: Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA. mona.bingham@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Mona O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Bingham
authors.forename: Joanne S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Harrell
authors.forename: Haruko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: Kaei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Washino
authors.forename: Chyrise
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Hyunju
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Marie Aline
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Charles
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology