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Overweight and obesity in Norwegian children: prevalence and socio-demographic risk factors

Pétur B Júlíusson1, Geir Egil Eide, Mathieu Roelants

  • 1Department of Clinical Medicine, Section of Paediatrics, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. petur.juliusson@med.uib.no

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|February 24, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Childhood overweight and obesity are prevalent in Norway, particularly among primary school children. Lower parental education and more siblings are associated risk factors for childhood obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Childhood overweight and obesity are significant global health concerns.
  • Identifying prevalence and risk factors is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity (OWOB) in Norwegian children.
  • To identify socio-demographic risk factors associated with OWOB in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized body mass index (BMI) data from 6386 Norwegian children aged 2-19 years.
  • Compared BMI with International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-off values.
  • Analyzed socio-demographic factors using multiple ordinal logistic regression in a subsample of 3793 children.

Main Results:

  • Overall OWOB prevalence was 13.8%, with higher rates in primary school children (17%).
  • Increased risk of OWOB was linked to having more siblings and lower parental educational levels.
  • No significant association was found with parental employment, single-parent status, or origin.

Conclusions:

  • The prevalence of OWOB in Norwegian primary school children is a public health concern.
  • Socio-demographic factors significantly influence childhood overweight and obesity rates.
  • Findings can inform targeted strategies to mitigate childhood obesity in Norway.
Abstract

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