Overweight and obesity in Norwegian children: prevalence and socio-demographic risk factors.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity and to identify socio-demographic risk factors in Norwegian children.


METHODS
The body mass index of 6386 children aged 2-19 years was compared with the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-off values to estimate the prevalence of overweight including obesity (OWOB) and obesity (OB). The effect of socio-demographic factors on this prevalence was analysed using multiple ordinal logistic regression analysis in a subsample of 3793 children.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of OWOB was 13.8% (13.2% in boys and 14.5% in girls, p = 0.146), but the prevalence was higher in primary school children aged 6-11 years (17%, p < 0.001). The risk of being OWOB or OB increased in children with fever siblings (p = 0.003) and with lower parental educational level (p = 0.001). There was no association with parental employment status, single-parent families or origin.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of OWOB and OB in Norwegian primary school children is of concern. Socio-demographic factors have pronounced effects on the current prevalence of overweight and obesity in a cohort of Norwegian children. This knowledge could help to work out strategies to reduce the burden of overweight and obesity in children.
Júlíusson
Pétur B
PB
Department of Clinical Medicine, Section of Paediatrics, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. petur.juliusson@med.uib.no
Eide
Geir Egil
GE
Roelants
Mathieu
M
Waaler
Per Erik
PE
Hauspie
Roland
R
Bjerknes
Robert
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult