title: Trends in overweight prevalence among 11-, 13- and 15-year-olds in 25 countries in Europe, Canada and USA from 2002 to 2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to assess recent changes in the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) among 11-, 13- and 15-year-olds in 33 countries from 2002 to 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 25 countries from three consecutive survey cycles (2002, 2006 and 2010) that had at least 80% response rate for self-reported height, weight and age were analysed using logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overweight prevalence increased among boys in 13 countries and among girls in 12 countries; in 10 countries, predominantly in Eastern Europe, an increase was observed for both boys and girls. Stabilization in overweight rates was noted in the remaining countries; none of the countries exhibited a decrease over the 8-year period examined. In the majority of countries (20/25) there were no age differences in trends in overweight prevalence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In over half of the countries examined overweight prevalence did not change during 2002-2010. However, increasing overweight prevalence was noted in many Eastern European countries over this time period. Overweight prevalence remained high in several countries in Europe and North America. These patterns call for continued research in youth overweight and highlight the need to understand cross-national differences by examining macro-level indicators. Such research should feed into developing sound translations and practices to prevent and reduce overweight in youth.
authors: 1 Faculty of Medicine, University of Paris-13, Bobigny, France. Current address: Maryland, USA naman123@sfr.fr.
authors: Namanjeet
authors: N
authors: Ahluwalia
authors: 2 Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Dalmasso
authors: 3 National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Mette
authors: M
authors: Rasmussen
authors: 4 Division of Intramural Public Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors: Leah
authors: L
authors: Lipsky
authors: 5 Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland, UK.
authors: Candace
authors: C
authors: Currie
authors: 6 University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors: Ellen
authors: E
authors: Haug
authors: 7 Health Promotion Research Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors: Colette
authors: C
authors: Kelly
authors: 3 National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Mogens Trab
authors: MT
authors: Damsgaard
authors: 3 National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Pernille
authors: P
authors: Due
authors: 8 Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Izabela
authors: I
authors: Tabak
authors: 9 Pediatric Endocrinology and Adolescent Divisions, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Oya
authors: O
authors: Ercan
authors: 10 Academical Hospital, Gent, Belgium.
authors: Lea
authors: L
authors: Maes
authors: 11 Chronic Diseases Department, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia.
authors: Katrin
authors: K
authors: Aasvee
authors: 2 Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors: Franco
authors: F
authors: Cavallo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067697:Adolescent Health; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology