Overweight and obesity in infants and pre‐school children in the European Union: a review of existing data

Abstract

SummaryThe objective of this study was to synthesize available information on prevalence and time trends of overweight and obesity in pre-school children in the European Union. Retrieval and analysis or re-analysis of existing data were carried out. Data sources include WHO databases, Medline and Google, contact with authors of published and unpublished documents. Data were analysed using the International Obesity Task Force reference and cut-offs, and the WHO standard. Data were available from 18/27 countries. Comparisons were problematic because of different definitions and methods of data collection and analysis. The reported prevalence of overweight plus obesity at 4 years ranges from 11.8% in Romania (2004) to 32.3% in Spain (1998Spain ( -2000. Countries in the Mediterranean region and the British islands report higher rates than those in middle, northern and eastern Europe. Rates are generally higher in girls than in boys. With the possible exception of England, there was no obvious trend towards increasing prevalence in the past 20-30 years in the five countries with data. The use of the WHO standard with cut-offs at 1, 2 and 3 standard deviations yields lower rates and removes gender differences. Data on overweight and obesity in pre-school children are scarce; their interpretation is difficult. Standard methods of surveillance, and research and policies on prevention and treatment, are urgently needed.

Maternal weight misperceptions and smoking are associated with overweight and obesity in low SES preschoolers

“…These findings confirm the hypothesis that LSES children are at increased risk for childhood obesity. Similar results were reported for 4-year-old children in England (21.2%), Italy (22.2%) and Poland (22.9%) (Cattaneo et al, 2010).…”

Sex differences in prevalence of overweight and obesity, and in extent of overweight index, in children and adolescents (3–18 years) from Kraków, Poland in 1983, 2000 and 2010

“…The 1980s and 1990s were a time of dramatic increases in the prevalence of overweight and obesity not only among adults, but also among children and adolescents in the USA and many countries of Western Europe (26) . These changes ran parallel with the social, economic and lifestyle-related changes (9,10,27) . That is why environmental factors, apart from genetic factors, are increasingly often mentioned as the main causes of obesity (28,29) .…”

Prevalencia y condicionantes de la obesidad en la población infantojuvenil de Cataluña, 2006-2012

“…Este patrón es similar al de España en su conjunto como lo demuestra un estudio publicado en base a la edición 2006-2007 de la Encuesta de Salud Española donde, siguiendo las recomendaciones del IOTF, la población de 2 a 9 años (11,2% a 15,1%) mostró una mayor prevalencia de obesidad en comparación con el grupo de 10 a 15 años (3,4% a 7,1%) 7 . A nivel europeo también se ha reportado la misma tendencia; en un estudio realizado en base a registros poblacionales donde, comparado con 18 países europeos, España mostró la mayor prevalencia de obesidad en la población de 2 a 4 años (16,4%) 21 .…”