Epidemiology

Your Organisational Guidance

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Obesitas bij kinderenPublished by: Domus Medica | SSMGLast published: 2008Obésité chez l'enfantPublished by: Domus Medica | SSMGLast published: 2008

Obesity in children and adolescents is a global health issue with increasing prevalence in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) as well as a high prevalence in many high-income countries.[9] In 2019, the World Obesity Federation estimated there would be 206 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 years living with obesity in 2025, and 254 million in 2030.[10] In the US, data obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) demonstrate that the prevalence of obesity among US children has been increasing since 1990.[5] Boys and girls are affected equally.[5]

NHANES data from 2017 to March 2020 showed that 12.7% of 2- to 5-year-olds, 20.7% of children aged 6-11 years, and 22.2% of people aged 12-19 years had obesity.[11]​ Among adolescents with obesity, the most rapid weight gain has been shown to occur between 2 and 6 years.[12]

Non-Hispanic African-American children and Hispanic children had higher prevalence of overweight and all classes of obesity compared with other races. Asian-American children had markedly lower rates of overweight and all classes of obesity.[5] Native American and Alaska Native children have a high prevalence of severe obesity, and obesity develops at a younger age in this population.[13]

Overall estimates of childhood obesity tend to be higher in the US as compared with other countries.[5] The National Child Measurement Programme in England 2022-2023 report found that obesity prevalence among 4- and 5-year-olds was 9.2% which rose to 22.7% among 10- to 11-year-olds.[14]​ In England, data collected from mainstream state-maintained schools demonstrated that the prevalence of children aged 4-5 (those in 'reception' school classes) living with obesity in England during 2022-2023 was over twice as high in the most deprived areas (12.4%) than in the least deprived areas (5.8%). This difference was also seen in ages 10-11 (those in 'Year 6' school classes) with 30.2% living with obesity in the most deprived areas compared with 13.1% in the least deprived areas.[15]

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