Prevalence and trends of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents from 2013 to 2017 in Shenzhen / 中华流行病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To examine the status and trends of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents aged 6-17 in Shenzhen between 2013 and 2017. Methods: Six primary schools, three junior high schools and three high schools were selected in Shenzhen from 2013 to 2017, through stratified cluster sampling method. Height and weight of the selected students were measured. Results: In total, 94 868 students were monitored from 2013 to 2017. The average prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 13.31% and 9.60%, respectively. The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity appeared higher in boys (17.60% and 12.43%) than those in girls (10.27% and 5.93%). The prevalence of overweight was higher than obesity. Both prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were declining over the past five years. The maximal prevalence rates of overweight of boys and girls were from 10 to 12 and 13 to 15 years of age, while the obesity was from 6 to 9 years old, respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were on the decline from 2013 to 2017, however, attention should be paid to the obesity problem in students.