Differences in development and the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents in different socioeconomic status districts in Shandong, China.
BACKGROUND
There are wide-ranging differences in human growth, not only between ethnic groups but also between regions. Shandong is one of the most populous provinces in China, with inequalities of regional economic status. However, no studies on the differences in development among children and adolescents in different districts have been reported.


OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the differences in height, weight and prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents of different socioeconomic status (SES) districts in Shandong, China.


METHODS
Data for this study were obtained from a large cross-sectional survey of schoolchildren. A total of 42 286 students (21 222 boys and 21 064 girls) aged 7-18 years from 16 districts participated in this study. Height and weight of all subjects were measured and BMI was calculated from their height and weight. Prevalence rates of obesity and overweight were determined by comparing calculated BMIs (kg/m(2)) to International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-offs. Each of the 16 districts was assigned an SES ranking (low, moderate, high) based on per capita GDP and income in urban and rural areas. Comparisons of height, weight and the prevalence of overweight and obesity among different groups were made.


RESULTS
Significant differences between SES groups were observed for height, weight and the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Boys and girls from high SES group were taller, heavier and more likely to be obese than their peers from moderate and low SES groups. The prevalences of combined overweight and obesity in the three SES groups were 18.46%, 21.08% and 27.31% in boys and 10.43%, 12.42% and 15.18% in girls, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
There have been obvious regional variations in development and the prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents in Shandong, China, These variations in development and prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents among different SES districts being related to the local SES, process of urbanization, living environments, nutritional status, dietary pattern, physical activity and public health.
Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong 250014, PR China. sdcdczyx@163.com
Ying-Xiu
YX
Zhang
Shu-Rong
SR
Wang
D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D048788:Growth and Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012923:Social Class; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data