Obesity prevalence and time trend among youngsters in China, 1982-2002

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Public Health Trends
• Childhood Obesity Epidemiology

Background:

• Childhood overweight and obesity are growing global health concerns.
• Understanding trends in China is crucial due to its large child population.
• The co-existence of undernutrition (stunting) and overnutrition (overweight/obesity) presents a complex public health challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the prevalence and trends of overweight and obesity in Chinese children and adolescents aged 7-17 years from 1982 to 2002.
• To investigate the co-existence of overweight/obesity with stunting during the same period.
• To provide data for public health interventions and policy-making in China.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from three national cross-sectional surveys conducted in 1982, 1992, and 2002.
• Included a large sample of children (7-17 years) across the survey years.
• Defined overweight and obesity using International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) BMI cut-offs and stunting as height-for-age below -2 SD from NCHS/WHO reference.

Main Results:

• Overweight prevalence rose from 1.2% (1982) to 4.4% (2002); obesity prevalence increased from 0.2% (1982) to 0.9% (2002).
• Increases in overweight and obesity were more pronounced in urban boys.
• The proportion of overweight/obese children who were also stunted significantly decreased from 28.4% (1982) to 5.7% (2002).

Conclusions:

• Childhood overweight and obesity in China have shown a rapid increasing trend since 1982.
• If current trends persist, overweight and obesity may reach epidemic proportions.
• A notable decline in stunting among overweight and obese children occurred simultaneously with the rise in overnutrition.