Prevalence of overweight and obesity among 7-9-year-old children in Aveiro, Portugal: comparison between IOTF and CDC references.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in schoolchildren from Aveiro, Portugal, according to two criteria: the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cut-offs.


METHODS
Weight, height and waist circumference were measured. Using the BMI, gender- and age-specific prevalences of overweight and obesity were determined according to the IOTF cut-offs extrapolated from an adult BMI of 25 and 30 kg/m2 and the CDC cut-off values of 85th and 95th BMI percentile.


METHODS
Aveiro, Portugal.


METHODS
A random representative sample of 905 children (457 boys; 448 girls) aged 7-9 years.


RESULTS
The prevalence of excess weight (overweight and obesity) was lowest according to IOTF cut-offs compared to CDC (28.1 % v. 31.2 %), especially obesity (8.1 % v. 14.0 %). However, the CDC and IOTF criteria have a strong agreement (Cohen's k = 0.755; P < 0.001). There were significant differences in excess weight between boys and girls according to the CDC (26.9 % v. 35.7 %; P = 0.003). Obese children are younger and the majority present abdominal obesity.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study shows a high prevalence of excess weight in Aveiro children, similar to other Portuguese regions and among the highest in Europe, especially in the female gender. The IOTF cut-off values give a lower prevalence of excess weight, namely obesity.
Pedrosa
Carla
C
Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences of University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. capedrosa@gmail.com
Correia
Flora
F
Seabra
Dulce
D
Oliveira
Bruno M P M
BM
Simões-Pereira
Carlos
C
Vaz-de-Almeida
Maria D
MD
D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D014481:United States