Abstract
Purpose: Central obesity is a strong risk factor for metabolic disorders and cardiometabolic diseases in children and adolescents. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of central obesity and to determine its cross-sectional association with lifestyle habits in a sample of school-aged children in Greece. Methods: The study sample consisted of 124,113 children (9.9 ± 1.1 years old, 51 % boys) attending the third and fifth grade of primary school. Anthropometric measurements were performed by trained physical education teachers, and central obesity was defined as waist-to-height ratio ≥0.5. Children’s lifestyle habits were assessed through 7-day recall questionnaires. Results: Of the participating children, 33.4 % were classified as centrally obese. Central obesity was significantly more prevalent in boys than in girls (36.0 vs. 30.7 %, P < 0.001) and was present in 95 % of obese children, as well as in a significant percentage of overweight (69.5 %) and normal-weight ones (12.0 %). Children with central obesity, compared to their non-centrally obese counterparts, reported poorer dietary habits and were less physically active. According to multiple logistic regression analysis, frequent breakfast (OR 0.72, 95 % CI 0.69–0.75) and snack consumption (OR 0.70, 95 % CI 0.67–0.74), as well as frequent participation in sedentary activities (OR 1.10, 95 % CI 1.07–1.14), were the strongest lifestyle determinants of central obesity. Conclusion: Strategies for the prevention of central obesity and associated comorbidities are urgently needed, for both obese and non-obese children. Our results suggest the need for a shift towards a healthier environment for our children, with emphasis on specific lifestyle habits, such as regular meal consumption and low sedentariness.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | European Journal of Nutrition |
| DOIs | |
| State | Accepted/In press - Aug 2 2015 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Abdominal adiposity
- Childhood central obesity
- Dietary habits
- Lifestyle
- Physical activity
- Sedentary activities
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Nutrition and Dietetics
Cite this
Prevalence and lifestyle determinants of central obesity in children. / Grigorakis, Dimitris A.; Georgoulis, Michael; Psarra, Glykeria; Tambalis, Konstantinos D.; Panagiotakos, Demosthenes B.; Sidossis, Labros S.
In: European Journal of Nutrition, 02.08.2015.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence and lifestyle determinants of central obesity in children
AU - Grigorakis, Dimitris A.
AU - Georgoulis, Michael
AU - Psarra, Glykeria
AU - Tambalis, Konstantinos D.
AU - Panagiotakos, Demosthenes B.
AU - Sidossis, Labros S.
PY - 2015/8/2
Y1 - 2015/8/2
N2 - Purpose: Central obesity is a strong risk factor for metabolic disorders and cardiometabolic diseases in children and adolescents. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of central obesity and to determine its cross-sectional association with lifestyle habits in a sample of school-aged children in Greece. Methods: The study sample consisted of 124,113 children (9.9 ± 1.1 years old, 51 % boys) attending the third and fifth grade of primary school. Anthropometric measurements were performed by trained physical education teachers, and central obesity was defined as waist-to-height ratio ≥0.5. Children’s lifestyle habits were assessed through 7-day recall questionnaires. Results: Of the participating children, 33.4 % were classified as centrally obese. Central obesity was significantly more prevalent in boys than in girls (36.0 vs. 30.7 %, P < 0.001) and was present in 95 % of obese children, as well as in a significant percentage of overweight (69.5 %) and normal-weight ones (12.0 %). Children with central obesity, compared to their non-centrally obese counterparts, reported poorer dietary habits and were less physically active. According to multiple logistic regression analysis, frequent breakfast (OR 0.72, 95 % CI 0.69–0.75) and snack consumption (OR 0.70, 95 % CI 0.67–0.74), as well as frequent participation in sedentary activities (OR 1.10, 95 % CI 1.07–1.14), were the strongest lifestyle determinants of central obesity. Conclusion: Strategies for the prevention of central obesity and associated comorbidities are urgently needed, for both obese and non-obese children. Our results suggest the need for a shift towards a healthier environment for our children, with emphasis on specific lifestyle habits, such as regular meal consumption and low sedentariness.
AB - Purpose: Central obesity is a strong risk factor for metabolic disorders and cardiometabolic diseases in children and adolescents. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of central obesity and to determine its cross-sectional association with lifestyle habits in a sample of school-aged children in Greece. Methods: The study sample consisted of 124,113 children (9.9 ± 1.1 years old, 51 % boys) attending the third and fifth grade of primary school. Anthropometric measurements were performed by trained physical education teachers, and central obesity was defined as waist-to-height ratio ≥0.5. Children’s lifestyle habits were assessed through 7-day recall questionnaires. Results: Of the participating children, 33.4 % were classified as centrally obese. Central obesity was significantly more prevalent in boys than in girls (36.0 vs. 30.7 %, P < 0.001) and was present in 95 % of obese children, as well as in a significant percentage of overweight (69.5 %) and normal-weight ones (12.0 %). Children with central obesity, compared to their non-centrally obese counterparts, reported poorer dietary habits and were less physically active. According to multiple logistic regression analysis, frequent breakfast (OR 0.72, 95 % CI 0.69–0.75) and snack consumption (OR 0.70, 95 % CI 0.67–0.74), as well as frequent participation in sedentary activities (OR 1.10, 95 % CI 1.07–1.14), were the strongest lifestyle determinants of central obesity. Conclusion: Strategies for the prevention of central obesity and associated comorbidities are urgently needed, for both obese and non-obese children. Our results suggest the need for a shift towards a healthier environment for our children, with emphasis on specific lifestyle habits, such as regular meal consumption and low sedentariness.
KW - Abdominal adiposity
KW - Childhood central obesity
KW - Dietary habits
KW - Lifestyle
KW - Physical activity
KW - Sedentary activities
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84938635353&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84938635353&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00394-015-1008-9
DO - 10.1007/s00394-015-1008-9
M3 - Article
JO - European Journal of Nutrition
JF - European Journal of Nutrition
SN - 1436-6207
ER -