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A social epidemiologic study of obesity among preschool children in Thailand

International Journal of Obesity volume 25, pages 389–394 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of childhood obesity in a moderately industrialized province in Thailand and examine the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on childhood obesity.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

SUBJECTS: One thousand one hundred and fifty seven children in the second or third grade of kindergartens in Saraburi Province, Thailand.

MEASUREMENTS: Height and weight were measured and the weight-for-height index with the Thai national standard was used for assessing nutritional status. A questionnaire was used for measuring parents' socioeconomic status.

RESULTS: The prevalence of childhood obesity over 97th percentile for weight-for-height (>p97) was 22.7% in urban and 7.4% in rural areas. There were marked relationships between childhood obesity and parents' educational level and household income.

CONCLUSION: Childhood obesity is an emerging health problem in developing countries, especially in urban areas. This study demonstrates a marked correlation between SES and prevalence of childhood obesity in an Asian developing country.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the Ajinomoto Foundation for Dietary Culture.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Health and Medicine, Research Institute, International Medical Center of Japan, Tokyo, Japan

    N Sakamoto & E Marui

  2. Department of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakorn-Pathom, Thailand

    S Wansorn

  3. Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakorn-Pathom, Thailand

    K Tontisirin

Authors
  1. N Sakamoto
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  2. S Wansorn
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  3. K Tontisirin
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  4. E Marui
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Correspondence to N Sakamoto.

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Sakamoto, N., Wansorn, S., Tontisirin, K. et al. A social epidemiologic study of obesity among preschool children in Thailand. Int J Obes 25, 389–394 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801477

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