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Updated: Oct 15, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
[National epidemiological study on obesity of children aged 0-7 years in China 1996]
Insights
Childhood obesity in China is a significant health concern, with prevalence increasing alarmingly. Early adiposity rebound age and higher obesity to overweight ratios are key risk factors requiring intervention during critical early childhood periods.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Childhood obesity presents a growing health challenge globally.
- In China, preschool children (0-7 years) are a key demographic for obesity studies.
- A 1996 survey in 11 cities provides crucial data on this population.
Purpose:
- To investigate the prevalence and trends of overweight and obesity in Chinese children aged 0-7 years.
- To identify risk factors associated with childhood obesity, including adiposity rebound age and ratio.
- To establish critical periods for obesity intervention in early childhood.
Summary:
- A 1996 study of 208,513 children aged 0-7 years in 11 Chinese cities found overweight prevalence at 4.2% and obesity at 2.0%.
- The obesity to overweight ratio (ORR) was 2.1%, with an adiposity rebound age (ARA) of 5 years.
- Obesity prevalence increased by 9.1% annually from 1986-1996, indicating an uncontrolled rise.
Impact:
- Early ARA and higher ORR are significant risk factors for increasing childhood obesity.
- The findings highlight 1 and 5 years post-birth as critical periods for obesity control interventions.
- Addressing childhood obesity is vital for public health and social well-being in China.
Objective:
To study on obesity of children aged 0-7 years in 11 cities in 1996.
Methods:
The sampling size was 208, 513. The children were divided into 9 groups: birth-, 1 mo-, 6 mo-, 1 yr, 2 yr-, 3 yr, 4 yr-, 5 yr-, 6-7 yr.
Results:
The prevalence of overweight was 4.2% (M4.2%, F4.2%); and of obesity, 2.0%(M2.2% F1.9%). The obesity to overweight ratio (ORR) was 2.1%(M1.9%, F2.2%). The adiposity rebound age (ARA) was 5 years. The adiposity rebound ratio (ARR) was 3.2 for ARR1 (M2.9%, F.5%) and 2.0 for ARR2 (M1.7%, F2.4%) in obese children and 3.5 for ARR1 (M 3.5, F3.5) and 2.5 for ARR2 (M2.8, F2.8) in overweight children respectively. The secular trend of prevalence of childhood obesity during 1986-1996 showed that the prevalence of obesity increased annually at 9.1% (M10%, F8.7%).
Conclusion:
The obesity has already been a severe health and social problem of preschool children in China. The increment of prevalence of obesity during 1986-1996 has been out of control. The earlier of ARA and the larger of OOR is an important risk factor of increasing of obesity. 1 year and 5 years after birth, predicted by ARR, are two critical periods of obesity control in preschool children in China.
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