title: Convenience Sampling of Children Presenting to Hospital-Based Outpatient Clinics to Estimate Childhood Obesity Levels in Local Surroundings.
abstract: Childhood obesity is a critical public health matter associated with numerous pediatric comorbidities. Local-level data are required to monitor obesity and to help administer prevention efforts when and where they are most needed. We hypothesized that samples of children visiting hospital clinics could provide representative local population estimates of childhood obesity using data from 2007 to 2013. Such data might provide more accurate, timely, and cost-effective obesity estimates than national surveys. Results revealed that our hospital-based sample could not serve as a population surrogate. Further research is needed to confirm this finding.
authors.affiliation: Jason Gilliland is with the Human Environments Analysis Laboratory and with Geography, Paediatrics, and Health Studies, University of Western Ontario, London. Andrew F. Clark is with the Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, University of Western Ontario. Marta Kobrzynski and Guido Filler are with the Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Ontario.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gilliland
authors.forename: Andrew F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobrzynski
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Filler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012572:School Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors