ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Chinese children and adoles cents,in order to provide the basis for developing obesity precautionary and control measures.Methods The data was extracted from the work in revision of National Student Physical Fitness Standard,including 120 275 children and adolescents of 7-18 years old.The Chinese body mass index criteria was used for screening overweight and obesity.Results the overall prevalence of obese was 7.1 ％ (boys:9.1％,girls:5.2％),of which 12.2％ (boys:14.6％,girls:9.8％) were overweight.The prevalence of obesity was decreased gradually with increasing age,but the boys' prevalence at the age of 9 and the girls' prevalence at the age of 16-17 was rebounded slightly.The obesity of children and adolescents from rural areas was in a significant growth stage,the prevalence of obesity was 4.6％ and overweight was 9.6％.There were differences between Han students and minority students,the Han'prevalence of obesity and overweight were 2.3％ and 3.2％higher than minority.The highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in Provincial Center City.The prevalence characteristic of obesity was uneven among different geographic areas,and was the maximum in North China and the minimum in Southern China.Conclusions The prevalence of obesity and overweight is higher among the males,primary students,rural areas,Han students,Provincial Center Cities,North and northeast areas.A targeted strategies and measures for obesity-prevention should be conducted.