title: Increasing prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in a coastal province in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity constitutes a serious public health problem in both developed and developing countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study examined the prevalent trends in overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Shandong, China spanning 29 years (1985-2014).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for this study were obtained from four cross-sectional surveys of schoolchildren carried out in 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2014 in Shandong Province, China. A total of 39 943 students aged 7-18 years were included in this study (14 458 in 1985, 7 198 in 1995, 8 568 in 2005 and 9 719 in 2014).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using IOTF criteria, the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased from 1.73% and 0.05% for boys, 1.67% and 0.04% for girls in 1985 to 20.83% and 10.39% for boys, 15.81% and 4.35% for girls in 2014; Using World Health Organization criteria, the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased from 2.76% and 0.45% for boys, 2.46% and 0.11% for girls in 1985 to 20.30% and 18.16% for boys, 18.89% and 6.58% for girls in 2014, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Childhood overweight and obesity has entered the extensively epidemic stage in this region at present. Comprehensive strategies of intervention should include periodical monitoring, education on pattern of nutrition, oxygen-consuming physical exercises and healthy dietary behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong University Institute of Preventive Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong University Institute of Preventive Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong University Institute of Preventive Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong University Institute of Preventive Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013334:Students
keywords: Child and adolescent; obesity; overweight; prevalence