A Meta-Analysis and an Evaluation of Trends in Obesity Prevalence among Children and Adolescents in Turkey: 1990 through 2015

Abstract

ObjectiveObesity in childhood and adolescence is one of the most serious public health problems due to a remarkable increase in prevalence in recent years and its close relationship with non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, resulting in increased adult morbidity and mortality. This study aims to quantify the secular trend in different regions of Turkey from 1990 to 2015 by performing a meta-analysis of childhood and adolescent obesity prevalence studies conducted.MethodsUludag University Library Database was searched for relevant articles published prior to March 2017. The heterogeneity of the studies in the meta-analysis was tested by the I2 statistic and Cochran’s Q test. The obesity trend analyses were examined by chi-square trend analysis with respect to five year periods. The statistical significance level was taken as α=0.05.ResultsA total of 76 papers were initially identified addressing childhood and adolescent obesity in Turkey. Fifty-eight papers were selected for analysis. The prevalence of obesity increased from 0.6% to 7.3% with an 11.6-fold increase between the periods 1990-1995 to 2011-2015. The prevalence of obesity increased in both genders. However, boys were more likely to be obese than girls.ConclusionStudies on obesity prevalence in the 5-19 age group in Turkey have gained importance, especially in the 2000s. While a remarkable number of prevalence studies, mostly regional, have been conducted between 2005-2011, a gradual decline was observed thereafter. Further national and population-based surveys on prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents are definitely needed in Turkey.

Pediatric laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in Turkey: Short‐term results

“…Obesity, with all its attendant comorbidities, is one of the most concerning scenarios of our time, and the number of people with obesity is increasing each day . In the past it had been thought of as a disease of adulthood, but 7.3% of the children in Turkey are now above the obesity cut‐off . Obesity may simply be related to feeding habits, as it is in most cases, but it also may be a result of endocrinological, neurological, metabolic, genetic or psychiatric conditions .…”

“…8 In the past it had been thought of as a disease of adulthood, but 7.3% of the children in Turkey are now above the obesity cut-off. 9 Obesity may simply be related to feeding habits, as it is in most cases, but it also may be a result of endocrinological, neurological, metabolic, genetic or psychiatric conditions. 1 In the present study, only one of the patients had proven Bardet-Biedl syndrome.…”

Remarkable increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school age children in Antalya, Turkey, between 2003 and 2015

“…Although there are several reports which have shown a plateau or a decreasing trend of childhood OW and OB in recent years from some regions of European countries (England (10), Ireland (11), France (12), Sweden (13), Italy (14) and Germany (15), Australia (16) and United States (17)); globally, the prevalence of OW and OB is rising among children and adolescents in both developed and developing countries, as is the case in Turkey (2) (4) (18). Alper et al [4] showed in a meta-analysis that the overall prevalence of OB in Turkey is 7.3 % among school aged children (6.8 % in girls, 7.4 % in boys). However, the prevalence of OW and OB in our study was significantly higher than other regions in Turkey (4), (5), (19), (20).…”

The comparison of nutritional and physical activity statuses in students of Audiology and Nutrition & Dietetics

“…Today, changes in lifestyle habits, including nutrition and physical activity habits, that the prevalence of obesity for public health caused a signifi cant increase in the last 20 years considered to be a serious threat in Turkey [1,2]. In order to stop this increase, it is recommended to provide public health education including balanced nutrition and physical activity [2].…”