Evolution of overweight and obesity among elementary school children in Geneva.
OBJECTIVE
In view of the alarming trend in childhood obesity (O) and overweight (OW) observed in certain countries, the aim of the study is to measure the prevalence of O and OW in successive cohorts of elementary school children in Geneva.


METHODS
All 5-6-year-old children attending public schools in the Canton of Geneva were measured and weighed during a systematic health check at school from 2003 to 2008. BMI was calculated and plotted on standardised BMI for age tables, using Cole's and Kromeyer's references.


RESULTS
Using Cole's references, the overall trend was a small non-significant decrease for OW 0.7 points (p = 0.33) and O 0.5 points (p = 0.23) over the 5-year period. For girls, OW decreased by 1.1 point (p = 0.47) and O decreased by 0.5 points (p = 0.61), whilst for boys OW decreased by 0.3 points (p = 0.54) and O decreased by 0.6 points (p = 0.23). A non-significant decrease or stabilisation in the prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed over the 5-year period in both boys and girls.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations corroborate observations from Sweden and France, showing a levelling off in obesity and overweight in young children.
Institut de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Faculté de médecine, Université de Genève, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland. emilien.jeannot@unige.ch
Emilien
E
Jeannot
Per
P
Mahler
Olivier
O
Duperrex
Philippe
P
Chastonay
D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013557:Switzerland