RESEARCH PAPER
Prevalence of overweight and underweight in children and adolescents in districts of Gdańsk
1
Department of Health Promotion, Gdańsk University of Physical Education and Sport
2
Department of Physiotherapy, Gdańsk University of Physical Education and Sport
3
University of Bydgoszcz
4
The Centre for the Promotion of Child Health and Fitness in Gdańsk
5
Department of Informatics and Statistics, Gdańsk University of Physical Education and Sport
Corresponding author
Anna Łysak
University of Physical Education and Sport, Kazimierza Górskiego 1, 80-336 Gdańsk, Poland
University of Physical Education and Sport, Kazimierza Górskiego 1, 80-336 Gdańsk, Poland
J Pre Clin Clin Res. 2014;8(1):23-26
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Neighbourhood impact on health has been the subject of many studies. They demonstrated that the health status of both adults and children depends, among other things, on the local environment. In turn, obesity in children and adolescents remains a major health problem in developed countries. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and underweight in children and adolescents (6–18-years-old) studying in schools located in different districts of Gdańsk, northern Poland.
Material and Methods:
The study was conducted in the 2008–2009 school year in the 6th largest city in Poland – Gdańsk (456,967 inhabitants). The study group comprised 25,609 children and adolescents, including 13,000 boys and 12,609 girls. The international standard IOTF (International Obesity Task Force) was used to determine overweight and underweight.
Results:
The incidence of overweight in the group was 19.15%, and of underweight 10.83%. Differences in the prevalence of these anomalies between particular Gdańsk districts were statistically significant (p = 0.0000). Underweight was observed in 12.32% of the examined girls and in 9.39% of boys. The statistically significant (chi2 test) prevalence of overweight and underweight depending on the district needs further clarification.
Conclusions:
Knowledge of these determinants is essential for creating effective health promotion programmes. It seems that in searching for determinants in future studies, the influence of the contextual factor should be considered.
Neighbourhood impact on health has been the subject of many studies. They demonstrated that the health status of both adults and children depends, among other things, on the local environment. In turn, obesity in children and adolescents remains a major health problem in developed countries. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and underweight in children and adolescents (6–18-years-old) studying in schools located in different districts of Gdańsk, northern Poland.
Material and Methods:
The study was conducted in the 2008–2009 school year in the 6th largest city in Poland – Gdańsk (456,967 inhabitants). The study group comprised 25,609 children and adolescents, including 13,000 boys and 12,609 girls. The international standard IOTF (International Obesity Task Force) was used to determine overweight and underweight.
Results:
The incidence of overweight in the group was 19.15%, and of underweight 10.83%. Differences in the prevalence of these anomalies between particular Gdańsk districts were statistically significant (p = 0.0000). Underweight was observed in 12.32% of the examined girls and in 9.39% of boys. The statistically significant (chi2 test) prevalence of overweight and underweight depending on the district needs further clarification.
Conclusions:
Knowledge of these determinants is essential for creating effective health promotion programmes. It seems that in searching for determinants in future studies, the influence of the contextual factor should be considered.
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| ISSN: | 1898-2395 |
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