title: Prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents aged 2-16 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of obesity and overweight in children and adolescents in our city and to investigate the associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of 1317 children and adolescents aged 2-16 years. Multistage probability sampling was used to select three groups of subjects: 411 aged 12 to 16 years, 504 aged 6 to 12 years, and 402 aged 2 to 6 years. Body mass index was calculated, and obesity and overweight were diagnosed using the threshold levels of the International Obesity Task Force for children and adolescents. Parents were asked about eating habits, health, social, and demographic aspects. Results are given as percentages (95% confidence interval). The relationship between obesity and overweight and the different variables was studied using multiple logistic regression. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among children and adolescents aged 2-16 years, 9.5% (8.0%-11.0%) were obese and 22.4% (23.3%-24.6%) were overweight. Of subjects aged 12-16 years, 8.5% (5.9%-11.2%) were obese and 20.5% (16.7%-24.3%) were overweight. In the groups aged 6-12 years and 2-6 years, rates of obesity and overweight were 11.6% (8.9% -14.3%) and 31.0% (27.0-35.0) and 8.0% (5.4%-10.6%) and 13.6% (10.3%-16.9%) respectively. Obesity or overweight was associated to age (OR 1.21; P<0.001), maternal obesity (OR 10.99; P= 0.008), a birthweight higher than 4kg (OR 2.91; p 0.002), and formula feeding (OR 1.82; P= 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity and overweight in children and adolescents are highly prevalent problems in our city.
authors: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Torrecárdenas, Almería, Spain. ggej@hotmail.com
authors: Emilio
authors: E
authors: García García
authors: María-Ángeles
authors: MÁ
authors: Vázquez López
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Galera Martínez
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Alias
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Martín González
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Bonillo Perales
authors: José Eugenio
authors: JE
authors: Cabrera Sevilla
authors: Icíar
authors: I
authors: García Escobar
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Gómez Bueno
authors: Encarnación
authors: E
authors: López Ruzafa
authors: Francisco-Javier
authors: FJ
authors: Muñoz Vico
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Oliva Pérez
authors: María
authors: M
authors: Ortiz Pérez
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Poveda González
authors: Marisa
authors: M
authors: Rodríguez Lucenilla
authors: Firma-Isabel
authors: FI
authors: Rodríguez Sánchez
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Ruiz Sánchez
authors: Lucía
authors: L
authors: Ruiz Tudela
authors: María I
authors: MI
authors: Sáez
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Salvador
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Torrico
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence