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Childhood obesity and socioeconomic status: a novel role for height growth limitation

International Journal of Obesity volume 29, pages 1199–1203 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess prevalence and socioeconomic context of overweight and obesity in a cohort of Scottish children.

DESIGN:

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING:

Primary schools in Dundee, Angus, and Fife, Eastern Scotland, UK.

PARTICIPANTS:

A total of 1240 boys and 1214 girls aged between 4–10 y.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:

Weight, height and body mass index (weight/height2).

RESULTS:

Overall overweight or obesity prevalence was 24.6%, while prevalence of obesity alone was 6.1%. Individuals from schools with a high level of low-income families were 65% more likely to be overweight as judged by BMI. However, these children weighed the same as more affluent children of the same age, but were 1.26 cm shorter.

CONCLUSION:

These data confirm the continued increase in childhood obesity in the UK and reveal a role for height-growth limitation in the absence of overall growth restriction, among children from low-income groups. This observation raises important questions regarding socioeconomic environmental factors in promoting the currently increasing levels of obesity.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by a grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (Award Number D13460). CP is supported by the Scottish Executive Genetic Health Initiative.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Bute Medical School, University of St Andrews, UK

    J E Cecil

  2. Chelsea School, University of Brighton, UK

    P Watt

  3. Biomedical Research Centre, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, UK

    I S L Murrie & C N A Palmer

  4. The Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, UK

    W Wrieden & C N A Palmer

  5. Centre for Public Health Nutrition Research, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, UK

    W Wrieden

  6. Department of Psychology, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK

    D J Wallis & M M Hetherington

  7. MRC Human Nutrition Unit, Cambridge, UK

    C Bolton-Smith

Authors
  1. J E Cecil
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  2. P Watt
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  3. I S L Murrie
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  7. C Bolton-Smith
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  8. C N A Palmer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C N A Palmer.

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Cecil, J., Watt, P., Murrie, I. et al. Childhood obesity and socioeconomic status: a novel role for height growth limitation. Int J Obes 29, 1199–1203 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803055

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803055

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