TY - JOUR
T1 - Body mass index and overweight in adolescents in 13 European countries, Israel, and the United States
AU - Lissau, Inge
AU - Overpeck, Mary D
AU - Ruan, W June
AU - Due, Pernille
AU - Holstein, Bjorn E
AU - Hediger, Mary L
AU - Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Obesity Working Group
PY - 2004/1
Y1 - 2004/1
N2 - OBJECTIVE: To compare the body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) and the prevalence of BMI at or above the 85th centile and 95th centile (overweight) in adolescents.DESIGN: Cross-sectional, nationally representative school-based surveys in 1997-1998 by means of identical data collection methods.SETTING: Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Flemish Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Ireland, Israel, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, and the United States.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 29 242 boys and girls, aged 13 and 15 years.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The BMI, BMI at or above the 85th centile, and BMI at or above the 95th centile (overweight) from self-reported height and weight.RESULTS: The highest prevalence of overweight was found in the United States and the lowest in Lithuania. On the basis of the study reference standard, the prevalence of overweight (percentage) in the United States was 12.6% in 13-year-old boys, 10.8% in 13-year-old girls, 13.9% in 15-year-old boys, and 15.1% in 15-year-old girls, all significantly increased. Prevalence of overweight in Lithuania was significantly below the expected 5%, with 1.8% in 13-year-old boys, 2.6% in 13-year-old girls, 0.8% in 15-year-old boys, and 2.1% in 15-year-old girls. Relative rankings among countries were similar for BMI at or above the 85th centile, although there were less dramatic differences at this level.CONCLUSIONS: The highest prevalences of overweight were found in the United States, Ireland, Greece, and Portugal.
AB - OBJECTIVE: To compare the body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) and the prevalence of BMI at or above the 85th centile and 95th centile (overweight) in adolescents.DESIGN: Cross-sectional, nationally representative school-based surveys in 1997-1998 by means of identical data collection methods.SETTING: Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Flemish Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Ireland, Israel, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, and the United States.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 29 242 boys and girls, aged 13 and 15 years.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The BMI, BMI at or above the 85th centile, and BMI at or above the 95th centile (overweight) from self-reported height and weight.RESULTS: The highest prevalence of overweight was found in the United States and the lowest in Lithuania. On the basis of the study reference standard, the prevalence of overweight (percentage) in the United States was 12.6% in 13-year-old boys, 10.8% in 13-year-old girls, 13.9% in 15-year-old boys, and 15.1% in 15-year-old girls, all significantly increased. Prevalence of overweight in Lithuania was significantly below the expected 5%, with 1.8% in 13-year-old boys, 2.6% in 13-year-old girls, 0.8% in 15-year-old boys, and 2.1% in 15-year-old girls. Relative rankings among countries were similar for BMI at or above the 85th centile, although there were less dramatic differences at this level.CONCLUSIONS: The highest prevalences of overweight were found in the United States, Ireland, Greece, and Portugal.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Age Distribution
KW - Body Mass Index
KW - Body Weight
KW - Europe
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Israel
KW - Male
KW - Obesity
KW - Prevalence
KW - Sex Distribution
KW - Sex Factors
KW - United States
KW - Comparative Study
KW - Journal Article
U2 - 10.1001/archpedi.158.1.27
DO - 10.1001/archpedi.158.1.27
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 14706954
SN - 1072-4710
VL - 158
SP - 27
EP - 33
JO - Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine
JF - Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine
IS - 1
ER -