title: Prevalence of overweight and obesity in preschool children in Thessaloniki, Greece.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Data on obesity in preschoolers are scarce in Greece, a country particularly affected by the obesity epidemic. The present study aimed to assess overweight and obesity prevalence of preschoolers in Thessaloniki, Greece, by using three different standards for defining childhood overweight and obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand two hundred and fifty (1250) preschool children (657 boys and 593 girls) aged 2.0-6.0 years old from all public municipality kindergartens of Thessaloniki, Greece, participated in this cross-sectional survey conducted from 2009 to 2010.Body weight and height were measured and detailed anthropometry measurement was undertaken. BMI was classified to weight categories based on the CDC (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), IOTF (the International Obesity Task Force) and WHO (the World Health Organization) references.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rates of excess body weight varied significantly according to the different international criteria: IOTF: overweight (including obesity) 21.2%, obesity 5.8%;CDC: overweight (including obesity) 30.5%, obesity 13.5%; and WHO: overweight (including obesity) 32.6%, obesity 5%. Boys and older children were particularly affected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overweight prevalence is high in Greek preschoolers and varies significantly according to the different criteria used, from 21.2% (IOTF reference) to 32.6% (CDC reference).
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Sindos, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hassapidou
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Sindos, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Efstratia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Daskalou
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, Royal London House, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK.
authors.forename: Fotini
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tsofliou
authors.affiliation: First Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tziomalos
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Sindos, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paschaleri
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,Thessaloniki; Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pagkalos
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, "Agios Pavlos" Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Themistoklis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tzotzas
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D017677:Age Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055105:Waist Circumference; D065927:Waist-Height Ratio