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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
[Childhood obesity]
Cláudia Dias da Costa1, Maria Gomes Ferreira, Rosário Amaral
1Consulta de Pediatria Geral, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada.
Insights
Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic. This study characterized obese children in Portugal, finding lifestyle factors like poor diet and lack of physical activity were common, impacting treatment success.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Endocrinology
Context:
- Childhood obesity is a significant global health concern, recognized as a 21st-century epidemic.
- Portugal faces a high prevalence of childhood obesity, consuming 3.5% of the national health budget.
Purpose:
- To characterize obese children receiving care in a pediatric outpatient setting.
- To analyze demographic, familial, social, and behavioral factors associated with childhood obesity.
Summary:
- A 12-year cohort study analyzed 482 children (51% boys, 49% girls) with a mean birth weight of 3585g and 93% eutocic delivery.
- Key findings include a 64% rate of positive family history for obesity, 38% exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months, 81% takeaway meal consumption, and 89% lack of regular physical activity.
- Intervention over 16 months achieved a 10% success rate with a 1.22 Body Mass Index (BMI) reduction, alongside a 20% dismissal rate within the first year.
Impact:
- Highlights the critical role of consistent follow-up and commitment to lifestyle modifications for successful weight management in pediatric obesity.
- Suggests regular appointments and periodic evaluations are effective strategies for combating the childhood obesity epidemic.
Unlabelled:
Childhood obesity, due to the exponential increase of this chronic disease, is now considered a XXI century epidemic disease. Portugal, the sixth European country where this disease is more prevalent, expends 3,5% of the annual health budget with this pathology.
Aim:
Characterization of the obese children followed in the pediatric outpatient clinic.
Methodology:
A twelve year cohort study who comprehended 482 kids, analysing demographic variables; family and social backgrounds; personal backgrounds; habits; body mass index (BMI); comorbidities; blood tests; clinical intervention and follow-up.
Results:
A positive family history with, at least, two obese elements was found in 64%, of the 246 boys (51%) and 236 girls (49%) analysed. We observed a 93% rate of eutocic delivery for an average birth weight of 3585 gr. These children were exclusively breastfeed for, at least, four months, in 38% of the cases. In our sample, we found an average of three meals per day, with an 81% rate of take-way. The absence of a regular physical activity plan was observed in 89% of the sample. Anthropometric evaluation and counselling about healthy habits were focused through all appointments. For a follow-up of 16 months (+/- 7 months), a 10% success rate was obtained, with an 1,22 BMI reduction. We verified a 20% dismissed rate, averagely occurring in the first 12 months (+/- 3 months).
Conclusions:
On the whole, the characterization of our sample seems to be according to the children obesity literature. Trough out follow-up, commitment to the interventional schedule was critical for life-style modification and desirable BMI achievement. Regular appointments and periodic evaluation of the results seems to be reliable strategies in the fight of this epidemic disease.
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