Prevalence and risk factors for childhood obesity in Changsha and Shenzhen in China

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a significant global health issue with increasing prevalence in urban areas.
• Understanding regional risk factors is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity.
• To identify risk factors associated with childhood obesity in Changsha and Shenzhen, China.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 209 obese children and 209 normal-weight controls aged 6-9 years.
• Matching cases and controls by gender, age, and school.
• Utilizing multivariable logistic regression to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for risk factors.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of overweight children was higher in Shenzhen (12.17%) compared to Changsha (9.28%).
• Obesity prevalence showed no significant difference between the two cities.
• Significant risk factors identified include paternal obesity, maternal weight gain during pregnancy (≥15.0 kg), high birth weight (≥4.00 kg), frequent unhealthy snack consumption (≥1/week), and prolonged daily television viewing (≥2 hours/day).

Conclusions:

• Paternal obesity, excessive gestational weight gain, high birth weight, and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors are significant risk factors for childhood obesity in urban South China.
• These findings underscore the importance of early life factors and lifestyle in the development of childhood obesity.