Tracking of overweight and obesity in Greek youth

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and tracking of overweight and obesity in a representative sample of Greek youth and the relation with child and parental factors.

Data were derived from 2 follow-ups of the Greek 1983 National Perinatal Survey by means of a questionnaire completed by parents in 1990 and parents/adolescents in 2001. Parent- and self-reported height and weight measurements were available for 7,219 participants aged 7, and 2,842 participants aged 18.

The overall overweight/obesity prevalence was 24.3% at age 7, and 15.1% at age 18. The overweight prevalence increased from childhood to adolescence in boys (16.1 to 19.1%) and decreased in girls (19.2 to 8.0%), while the obesity prevalence showed a decrease in both boys (6.2 to 3.6%) and girls (5.8 to 1.0%). Overall, tracking of weight status was 73.7%. More boys (49.2%) remained overweight/obese than girls (24.7%). At age 7, overweight/ obesity was positively associated with male gender, paternal education, and urban residence. Overweight/obesity also correlated with male gender at age 18, and with parental weight status.

The prevalence of overweight among Greek youth is high and showed an increase from childhood to adolescence in boys, and a decrease in girls.