Overweight and Underweight Prevalence Trends in Children from Romania - Pooled Analysis of Cross-Sectional Studies between 2006 and 2015.
High-quality national representative data on obesity in Romanian children are needed to shape public health policies. To provide a unified data landscape on national prevalence, trends and other factors associated with underweight, overweight, and obesity in Romanian children aged 6-19 years, across the last decade (2006-2015).



Using a common protocol, we selected published and unpublished studies that measured Romanian children in schools between 2006 and 2015. Children's BMI was classified using the current WHO, IOTF, and CDC references.



25,060 children from 8 Romanian counties were included in the analysis. The prevalence of underweight children was 5%/4.5%/8.5% (WHO/IOTF/CDC), while the prevalence of overweight (including obese) children was 28.3%/23%/23.2% (WHO/IOTF/CDC). The prevalence of overweight children did not change significantly over the last decade (chi-square test p = 0.6). Male gender (odds ratio (OR) 1.37; 95% CI 1.29-1.45, compared to female); prepubertal age (OR = 3.86; 95% CI 3.41-4.36,compared to postpubertal age), and urban environment (OR 1.12; 95% CI 1.01-1.26, compared to rural environment) had higher risk for overweight.



While the prevalence of underweight children was low, almost one in four children in Romania was overweight or obese (according to WHO criteria) between 2006 and 2015. This prevalence remained relatively stable over the last decade. Male gender, prepubertal age, and urban environment, were the most relevant risk factors associated with overweight status in Romanian children.
Genetics Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy x2018;Victor Babes', Timisoara, Romania.
Adela
A
Chirita-Emandi
Carmen Gabriela
CG
Barbu
Elena Eliza
EE
Cinteza
Bianca Ioana
BI
Chesaru
Mihai
M
Gafencu
Veronica
V
Mocanu
Ionela M
IM
Pascanu
Simona Alexandra
SA
Tatar
Mihaela
M
Balgradean
Michaela
M
Dobre
Simona Vasilica
SV
Fica
Gabriela Edita
GE
Ichim
Raluca
R
Pop
Maria
M
Puiu
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004777:Environment; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011640:Public Policy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012424:Rural Population; D012574:Schools; D012931:Social Environment; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014505:Urban Population