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Overweight and obesity in Irish primary schools: retrospective cohort study

C McMaster1, L Cullen, N Raymond

  • 1Regional Child and Adolescent Health Development Officer, Regional Children's Services, Health Service Executive North Western Area, Old Church, Drumany, Letterkenny, County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. Christina.McMaster@mailb.hse.ie

Child: Care, Health and Development
|August 17, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Routine school health screenings in the Republic of Ireland can effectively estimate childhood overweight and obesity prevalence. This study found rates comparable to Western nations, highlighting the need for standardized definitions.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Investigates feasibility of using existing primary school health screening data.
  • Focuses on estimating childhood overweight and obesity prevalence in a rural Republic of Ireland (ROI) setting.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the utility of routine health data for childhood obesity surveillance.
  • To determine overweight and obesity prevalence in young children in North-West ROI.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of senior infants (2001/2002) in County Leitrim and Cavan.
  • Utilized paper-based health records, calculating Body Mass Index (BMI).
  • Applied International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and UK growth standards for prevalence estimation.

Main Results:

  • Identified 361 children; 91% had available weight and height data.
  • IOTF standards: 25% (boys) and 26% (girls) overweight/obese.
  • UK standards: 34% (boys) and 23% (girls) overweight/obese.

Conclusions:

  • Routine school health programs can generate reliable childhood obesity prevalence data in ROI.
  • Prevalence rates are comparable to other Western countries.
  • Further research is needed for a universally accepted definition of childhood overweight and obesity.
Abstract

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