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Updated: May 23, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
BMI from nutritional surveillance of 8-9 years old children in Tuscany (Italy)
G Lazzeri1, A Pammolli, R Simi
1CREPS - Centre of Research for Health Education and Promotion, University of Siena, Italy.
Insights
Childhood obesity in Tuscany affects 7.95% of 8/9-year-olds, with overweight prevalence at 23.43%. Obesity is higher in smaller towns, highlighting the need for targeted public health interventions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Public Health
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Childhood Obesity Research
Background:
- Rising childhood obesity rates pose long-term public health risks, increasing the likelihood of adult obesity.
- Systematic assessment of childhood nutritional status is crucial at international, regional, and local levels.
- This study examines underweight, overweight, and obesity prevalence in Tuscan primary school children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity in 8/9-year-old children in Tuscany.
- To analyze the distribution of these nutritional statuses based on the population size of their residential areas.
- To provide data for public health strategies addressing childhood nutritional status.
Main Methods:
- A statistical sample of 2109 children (aged 8/9 years) was analyzed.
- Standardized measurements of weight and height were used to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI).
- Epidemiological cut-offs for children and adolescents were applied, with residence areas categorized by population.
Main Results:
- Underweight prevalence was 0.88%, overweight was 23.43%, and obesity was 7.95%.
- Obesity prevalence was lowest (6.46%) in metropolitan areas (>50,000 residents).
- Obesity prevalence (10.71%) was highest in municipalities with fewer than 10,000 residents.
Conclusions:
- Tuscany's childhood obesity prevalence is lower than the Italian national average, but overweight prevalence is similar.
- A higher prevalence of obesity was observed in areas with smaller populations.
- Findings underscore the importance of considering demographic factors in childhood obesity interventions.
Introduction:
The latest increase in childhood obesity focused attention on the important consequences that this phenomenon may have on public health in relationship to the increasing risk that an obese child may become an obese adult. To deal with this problem, there is necessary to assess systematically the distribution of childhood nutritional status at different levels: international, regional and local. In this paper are presented data on underweight, overweight and obesity prevalence in third grade primary school children, aged 8/9 years in Tuscany (2008) and its distribution in relationship to the demographic breadth of their place of residence.
Methods:
Data from statistic sample of 2109 (1.091 males, 1.018 females), 8/9 years school-children were collected; weight and height were measured using standardised personnel and instruments. Exact month age was calculated between the data of measurement and that of birth. Body Mass Index (BMI) classes were calculated using Cole et al.'s epidemiologic cut-off for children and adolescents. Residence areas were divided into four classes based on the number of inhabitants (< 10.000; 10.000-50.000; > 50.000; > 50.000 metropolitan).
Results:
The prevalence of underweight was 0.88% (0.76% in males and 1.01% in females), the prevalence of overweight was 23.43% (22.33% in males and 24.65% in females), the prevalence of obese was 7.95% (9.08% in males, 6.70% in females). The lowest prevalence of obese (6.46%) was found in towns with over 50.000 residents (metropolitan).
Conclusion:
The obesity prevalence in Tuscany children is still lower than that of the Italian National Survey, while the overweight prevalence it's the same. Obesity prevalence (10.71%) is higher in municipalities with low residents number (< 10.000).
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