We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Incidence of childhood overweight and obesity and its association with weight-related attitudes and behaviors in China: a national longitudinal study.
- Authors
Cai, Li; Dai, Meixia; Lin, Lizi; Yang, Wenhan; Chen, Yajun; Ma, Jun; Jing, Jin
- Abstract
Background: Childhood obesity is a major public health challenge. We aimed to investigate the incidence of overweight/obesity among Chinese children; and prospectively examine the associations of weight-change intention with risk of overweight/obesity and behavioral changes in initially normal-weight children. Methods: A national sample of 21,796 children aged 6–17 years were investigated in September 2013 and followed up nine months later, of which 19,887 (91%) were normal weight and 1909 (9%) were underweight at baseline. Weight and height were objectively measured. Weight perception, weight-change intention, weight control practices, weight-related behaviors, and demographic information were obtained by questionnaires. Results: Among children with underweight or normal-weight, the cumulative incidence of overweight/obesity was 2.77% (95% CI 2.55–2.99). Among normal-weight children, those who overestimated their weight had higher baseline BMI z-scores and an increased relative risk (RR) of overweight/obesity (RR 1.51, 95% CI 1.15–1.99). Children who misperceived themselves as underweight or overweight had stronger weight-change intention than their counterparts. However, children with weight-change intention did not develop greater changes in dietary intakes, physical activities, or sedentary behaviors than those without intention. There was no significant association between weight-change intention and incidence after adjusting for BMI z-scores at baseline. Self-reported improving diet, increasing physical activity, and dieting were associated with certain actual behavioral improvements and smaller increase in BMI z-score, but not associated with decreased risk of overweight/obesity. Conclusion: The 9-months cumulative incidence of overweight/obesity was 2.77% among Chinese children. Weight-change intention was not associated with incidence of overweight/obesity in normal-weight children, regardless of their weight perception. More importantly, children's weight-change intention was insufficient in achieving desirable behavioral changes. Future overweight and obesity prevention programs should directly target on promoting children's actual behavioral changes.
- Subjects
CHINA; BODY weight; RISK of childhood obesity; BEHAVIOR modification; REGULATION of body weight; CONFIDENCE intervals; DIET; HEALTH; INTENTION; LEANNESS; LONGITUDINAL method; CHILDHOOD obesity; QUESTIONNAIRES; SELF-evaluation; INFORMATION resources; BODY mass index; DISEASE incidence; PHYSICAL activity; PSYCHOLOGY
- Publication
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition & Physical Activity, 2018, Vol 15, Issue 1, pN.PAG
- ISSN
1479-5868
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s12966-018-0737-6