title: Drastic increases in overweight and obesity from 1981 to 2010 and related risk factors: results from the Barbados Children's Health and Nutrition Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine overweight and obesity (OWOB), changes in prevalence and potential risk factors in Barbadian children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-section of students were weighed and measured. The WHO BMI-for-age growth references (BAZ), the International Obesity Task Force cut-offs and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth percentiles were used to determine OWOB prevalence. Harvard weight-for-height-for-age growth standards were used to estimate differences in OWOB prevalence from 1981 to 2010. Samples of parents and students were interviewed to describe correlates of OWOB.
  
  
  METHODS
  Barbados.
  
  
  METHODS
  Public-school students (n 580) in class 3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on WHO BAZ, the overall prevalence of OWOB was 34·8 % (95 % CI 30·9, 38·7 %). A trend of higher OWOB prevalence was seen for girls across cut-offs, with significant sex differences noted using the International Obesity Task Force cut-offs. According to Harvard growth standards, OWOB has increased dramatically, from 8·52 % to 32·5 %. Children were more likely to be OWOB when annual household income was below BBD 9000 (OR=2·69; 95 % CI 1·21, 5·99). Eating dinner with the family every night was associated with a lower prevalence of OWOB (OR=0·56; 95 % CI 0·36, 0·87).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sharp increase of OWOB rates in Barbados warrants attention. Sex disparities in OWOB prevalence may emerge at a young age. Promoting family meals may be a feasible option for OWOB prevention. Understanding familial and sociodemographic factors influencing OWOB will be useful in planning successful intervention or prevention programmes in Barbados.
authors.affiliation: 1School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition,McGill University,MacDonald Campus,21111 Lakeshore,Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue,QC,H9X 3V9,Canada.
authors.forename: Melissa Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.affiliation: 1School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition,McGill University,MacDonald Campus,21111 Lakeshore,Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue,QC,H9X 3V9,Canada.
authors.forename: Stan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kubow
authors.affiliation: 1School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition,McGill University,MacDonald Campus,21111 Lakeshore,Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue,QC,H9X 3V9,Canada.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gray-Donald
authors.affiliation: 3Faculty of Social Science,University of the West Indies at Cave Hill,Barbados.
authors.forename: JaDon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.affiliation: 4Faculty of Medical Sciences,University of the West Indies at Cave Hill,Barbados.
authors.forename: Pamela S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Gaskin
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001460:Barbados / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D019456:Health Transition; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011203:Poverty; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: Child obesity; Family meals; Risk factors; Sex differences