title: Overweight and obesity prevalence and trends in children and adolescents in Cyprus 2000-2010.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 2010 and examine prevalence trends between 2000 and 2010 among school-aged children and adolescents in Cyprus.
  
  
  METHODS
  A representative cross-sectional study was undertaken in 2010. Anthropometric data were taken using standard methods from 3090 children. The IOTF cut-offs were used to define overweight and obese participants, and prevalence was compared with a previous representative study performed in 2000. Prevalences with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated and logistic regression models were used to estimate 10-year trends.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of obesity was higher in 2010 (8.1% [95%CI: 7.1, 9.1]) compared to 2000 (5.9% [95%CI: 5.0, 6.8]), p=0.002. The overall prevalence of overweight was also higher in 2010 (20.1% [95%CI: 18.7, 21.5]) compared to 2000 (16.5% [95%CI: 15.0, 18.0]), p<0.001. The prevalence of obesity increased at a greater rate in school-aged boys (p=0.017), and in rural areas (p=0.001). In rural areas, high maternal education background is associated with a decreased odds for obesity; odds ratio 0.35 (95% CI: 0.17, 0.69), p=0.003.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of obesity and overweight in children and adolescents in Cyprus has increased substantially over a decade, mainly in rural areas and in school-aged boys.
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Institute of Child Health, 138, Limassol Avenue, 2015 Strovolos, Cyprus. Electronic address: sc.savvas@cytanet.com.cy.
authors.forename: Savvas C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Savva
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Institute of Child Health, 138, Limassol Avenue, 2015 Strovolos, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Yiannis A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Kourides
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Institute of Child Health, 138, Limassol Avenue, 2015 Strovolos, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hadjigeorgiou
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Institute of Child Health, 138, Limassol Avenue, 2015 Strovolos, Cyprus; Pedagogical Institute of Cyprus, 40, Macedonia Avenue, 2238 Latsia, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tornaritis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003535:Cyprus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000639:trends*; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: Adolescent; Child; Obesity; Overweight