Few attempts have been made to compare obesity and undernutrition prevalence in children and adolescents across countries using international standards. BMI (=weight/height2) is widely used to measure nutritional status in schoolage children and adults. WHO recommends use of age-sex-specific BMI 85th percentiles (based on NHANES I data) to define adolescent overweight, and 5th percentiles for underweight. Using data for children aged 6-18 collected in nationwide surveys from China (1993), Russia (1996) and the US (NHANES III survey, 1988-94), we examined the prevalence of overweight and underweight and related socio-demographic factors across populations. Overweight prevalence was 6.5%, 9.4% and 27.5% in China, Russia and the US, respectively; underweight prevalence was 14.5%, 7.9% and 3.1%, respectively. Different relationships between children's nutritional status and SES, age and gender were found across countries. Higher SES subjects were more likely to be overweight in China and Russia, but less likely in the US. Overweight prevalence was higher in younger and male children in China, but not in Russia or the US; and it was higher in urban areas in China, but lower in Russia. Further, obesity prevalence has increased in China and the US in the past 1-2 decades, but decreased in Russia. Our results show that national socio-economic conditions have an important impact on children's nutritional status.
Learning Objectives: Participants in this session will learn: 1. How to measure child and adolescent overweight, obesity and underweight using a WHO recommended reference, which is developed based on the NHANS I data. 2. The current situation of child and adolescent nutritional status in the US and another two large developing countries. 3. The social environmental risk factors of obesity and undernutrion. The information is useful for developing intervention programs to help children and adolescents maintain healthy body weight
Keywords: Children and Adolescents, Obesity
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.