Abstract
Trends in the prevalence of obesity in 6-11 year old children and 12-17 year old adolescents were examined using data collected during the National Health Examination Survey (NHES) Cycle II (1963-65), NHES Cycle III (1966-70), first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I, 1971-74), and NHANES II (1976-80). All four surveys used a complex multistage probability sampling design to provide representative samples of the noninstitutionalized population of the United States. Obesity was defined as a triceps skinfold ≥ 85th percentile of 6-11 year old children studied in NHES Cycle II or 12-17 year old adolescents studied in NHES Cycle III. Superobesity was defined as a triceps skinfold ≥ 95th percentile. Over the 10-15 year period encompassed by these surveys, obesity and superobesity increased by 54% (p <.0001) and 98% (p <.0001) respectively in 6-11 year olds and by 39% (p < .0001) and 64% (p < .0001) respectively in 12-17 year olds. In both groups, the increases in prevalence were greater in blacks than whites. In 6-11 year olds, greater increases occurred in males, whereas in 12-17 year olds, greater increases occurred in females. Previously documented differentials in the prevalence of obesity by season and region of the country persisted independent of the changes in prevalence. These data indicate that obesity is epidemic in the pediatric population, and emphasize the need for more effective therapy and prevention.
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Dietz, W., Gortmaker, S., Sobol, A. et al. 527 TRENDS IN THE PREVALENCE OF CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENT OBESITY IN THE UNITED STATES. Pediatr Res 19, 198 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00557
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00557