Is the prevalence of overweight and obesity declining among 4-year-old Swedish children?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the trend in overweight and obesity prevalence among 4-year-old Swedish children.


METHODS
Height and weight data registered at the regular health check up at the child health centres in the county of Västerbotten during the years 2007/2008 (2225 boys and 2156 girls) were analysed and compared with data from 2002/2003 (2231 boys and 2176 girls). Overweight and obesity were estimated using the International Obesity Task Force cut-off values (ISO BMI).


RESULTS
In both boys and girls, overweight prevalence (ISO BMI > 25) decreased over the 5-year period, boys from 17.2% to 14.2% and girls from 22.3% to 19.0%. Among girls, there was also a decrease in obesity prevalence (ISO BMI > 30) from 5.7% to 3.1%.


CONCLUSIONS
The result of this study indicates that the overweight and obesity epidemic among Swedish pre-school children may be levelling off.
Bergström
Erik
E
Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, University of Umeå, Umeå, Sweden. erik.bergstrom@pediatri.umu.se
Blomquist
Hans K Son
HK
D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology