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Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
[Epidemiology of over- and underweight in Swiss college students]
Abstract:
Overweight and obesity rates are increasing worldwide. In this study 409 adolescents and young adults (age range 15-22 years) in a Swiss college were studied. The prevalence of overweight was 6.13% in the girls and 5.95% in the boys. 9.52% of the boys and 16.51% of the girls were underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2). 16.98% of the girls had a fat mass > 30%. 2.98% of the boys had a fat mass of > 20%. Male adolescents with a fat mass > 15% judged their physical activity on a visual analogue scale (VAS) significantly lower than male adolescents with a fat mass of < 15% (mean +/- SD VAS score: 4.49 +/- 2.08 vs. 6.00 +/- 2.08, p = 0.03). The same was found in female adolescents: girls with a fat mass > 30% reported a lower physical activity level than females with a fat mass < 30% (mean +/- SD VAS score: 4.84 +/- 1.74 vs. 5.68 +/- 1.82, p = 0.04). Obesity and fatness, but also underweight, is a serious problem in Swiss adolescents. Well chosen public health strategies to address both sides of the energy balance equation are strongly needed.
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