Increase in Prevalence of Overweight in Dutch Children and Adolescents: A Comparison of Nationwide Growth Studies in 1980, 1997 and 2009

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Dutch children and adolescents, to examine the 30-years trend, and to create new body mass index reference charts.DesignNationwide cross-sectional data collection by trained health care professionals.Participants: 10,129 children of Dutch origin aged 0–21 years.Main Outcome MeasuresOverweight (including obesity) and obesity prevalences for Dutch children, defined by the cut-off values on body mass index references according to the International Obesity Task Force.ResultsIn 2009, 12.8% of the Dutch boys and 14.8% of the Dutch girls aged 2–21 years were overweight and 1.8% of the boys and 2.2% of the girls were classified as obese. This is a two to three fold higher prevalence in overweight and four to six fold increase in obesity since 1980. Since 1997, a substantial rise took place, especially in obesity, which increased 1.4 times in girls and doubled in boys. There was no increase in mean BMI SDS in the major cities since 1997.ConclusionsOverweight and obesity prevalences in 2009 were substantially higher than in 1980 and 1997. However, the overweight prevalence stabilized in the major cities. This might be an indication that the rising trend in overweight in the Netherlands is starting to turn.

A Trial of Sugar-free or Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Body Weight in Children

“…The mean BMI z score was 0.03, which corresponded with the 51st percentile of Dutch children. 23 The SD of 1.02 confirmed that our sample was representative of Dutch children, for whom the SD equals 1.00 by definition. At baseline, the participants consumed a mean (±SD) of 1.02±0.20 sugar-sweetened beverages in the classroom during the 10 a.m. break, Monday through Friday, and 1.50±1.40 sugarsweetened beverages per day during weekends.…”

“…The primary outcome 20 was the BMI z score (expressed as the number of standard deviations by which the BMI differed from the mean for a child's age and sex in the Netherlands). 23 Prespecified secondary outcomes were the waist-toheight ratio, the sum of the four skinfold-thickness measurements, and fat mass determined by means of electrical impedance. 20 Additional outcomes were weight, height, z score for height, 23 waist circumference, and weight change adjusted for height change.…”

“…23 Prespecified secondary outcomes were the waist-toheight ratio, the sum of the four skinfold-thickness measurements, and fat mass determined by means of electrical impedance. 20 Additional outcomes were weight, height, z score for height, 23 waist circumference, and weight change adjusted for height change. Responses of the two study groups to the beverages were compared with two-sided t-tests.…”

The world’s tallest nation has stopped growing taller: the height of Dutch children from 1955 to 2009

“…Unhealthy eating habits may lead to inadequate nutrient intake, which may result in lower height. Furthermore, an unhealthy diet in combination with less energy expenditure due to a sedentary lifestyle leads to an increase in overweight and obesity, a phenomenon that has also been observed in Dutch children (14). Higher BMI is associated with earlier onset of maturation and menarche, which, in turn, are related to lower height (15,16).…”

Incidence and gender differences of slipped capital femoral epiphysis in the Netherlands from 1998–2010 combined with a review of the literature on the epidemiology of SCFE

“…A comparison of data for the period 1997-2009 shows that 9.4 versus 13.3 % of Dutch boys and 11.9 versus 14.9 % of Dutch girls aged 2-21 years were overweight and 0.9 versus 1.8 % of the boys and 1.6 versus 2.2 % of the girls were classified as obese [13]. Although the boys have increased in body weight more than the girls, the incidence of SCFE for boys-but not for girls-seems to have stabilized.…”