Prevalence of obesity and body mass index correlates in a representative sample of Cretan school children.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity and investigate associated factors in a representative sample of Cretan school children.


METHODS
As part of a cross-sectional study in children aged 10-12 years (n = 481, 48% boys) in 27 (urban and rural) schools in Crete, Greece, the rates of overweight and obesity were estimated and multiple logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between several factors and body mass index (BMI).


RESULTS
It was shown that 28% and 13% of children were overweight and obese, respectively. Factors affecting children's BMI classification included: gender (95% CI: 0.21 to 0.56); birth weight (95% CI: 1.33 to 3.46); parental overweight or obesity (95% CI: 1.11 to 6.5 and 95% CI: 4.37 to 30.7 for one and both overweight or obese parents, respectively), paternal educational level (95% CI: 0.89 to 3.48 and 95% CI: 1.49 to 6.13 for low and high educational level, respectively); and cardiovascular fitness levels (95% CI: 0.87 to 0.92).


CONCLUSIONS
The combined prevalence of overweight and obesity was alarmingly high in the current population (41%); several physiological, behavioural and social factors were shown to affect children's BMI status. These findings highlight the extent of the child obesity problem in Crete and support the need for actions to be taken at a national level to tackle the obesity epidemic.
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, Kallithea, Athens, Greece. manios@hua.gr
Yannis
Y
Manios
Peter D
PD
Angelopoulos
Georgia
G
Kourlaba
Maria
M
Kolotourou
Evangelia
E
Grammatikaki
Tina Louisa
TL
Cook
Zoi
Z
Bouloubasi
Anthony G
AG
Kafatos
D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis