title: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Polish school- aged children and adolescents
abstract: The aim was to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Polish school-aged children and adolescents in a population-based, random sample.
  
  
  
  A total of 17 427 children and adolescents aged 7−18 years (8 327 boys) from a nationally representative random sample were examined from 2007 to 2009 in 416 schools in all regions of Poland. Height and weight were measured and body mass index was calculated. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was determined using three childhood obesity definitions: the Centers for Disease Control, the International Obesity Task Force, and the World Health Organization.
  
  
  
  According to the definitions used, the prevalence of excess weight among children aged 7−12 years was in the range 21.7−30.4% and 18.4−23.2%, boys and girls, respectively. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents aged 13−18 years was in the range 14.6−19.4% and 10.3−13.0%, boys and girls, respectively, using international definitions of childhood overweight. The prevalence of obesity among children aged 7−12 years was in the range 5.5−13.1% and 3.6−6.4%, in boys and girls, respectively. The prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 13−18 years was in the range3.4−5.0% and 2.0−2.6%, boys and girls, respectively.
  
  
  
  The estimates of overweight and obesity prevalence varied substantially by age group, gender and the definition used. Comparing to the European countries, Poland had medium to high level of childhood and youth overweight and obesity prevalence. High prevalence of overweight and obesity among Polish children and adolescents requires implementation of public health approach to the problem.
authors.affiliation: The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Public Health Department
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kułaga
authors.affiliation: The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Public Health Department
authors.forename: Aneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grajda
authors.affiliation: The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Public Health Department
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gurzkowska
authors.affiliation: The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Public Health Department
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wojtyło
authors.affiliation: The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Public Health Department
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Góźdź
authors.affiliation: The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Department of Nephrology, Renal Transplantation and Hypertension
authors.forename: Mieczysław
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Litwin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D017678:Sex Distribution