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Maternal and pediatric nutrition

Severe obesity prevalence in 8- to 9-year-old Italian children: a large population-based study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 69, pages 603–608 (2015)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background and Objectives:

Little information is available on severe obesity in childhood. This study estimates the prevalence of severe obesity in 8- to 9-year-old children resident in Italy and its association with gender, age, geographical area and parents’ nutritional status and education using the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) criteria.

Subjects/Methods:

A nationally representative sample of grade 3 Italian students was measured in 2010 (N=42 431) using standardized instruments and methodology. Severe obesity in children was assessed using definitions provided by the WHO and by the IOTF. Prevalence was estimated within categories of sociodemographic variables and their independent effects were estimated using multivariate logistic regression.

Results:

The estimated prevalence of severe obesity in 2010 was 4.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.2–4.7) according to the WHO definition and 2.7% (95% CI: 2.5–2.9) with IOTF cutoffs. These values were slightly lower than those observed in 2008. The prevalence was higher in males, in 8-year-old children and in the South. Parental low education and high body mass index were strongly associated with childhood severe obesity.

Conclusion:

According to the definition used, between 30 000 and 50 000 children aged 8–9 years suffer severe obesity in Italy.

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Acknowledgements

The following are the other members of the OKkio alla SALUTE Group 2010: G Baglio, M Bucciarelli, S Andreozzi, M Pediconi, S Rubimarca, C Cattaneo, B De Mei (National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion of the National Institute of Health); D Galeone, MT Menzano, MT Scotti, L Spizzichino (Ministry of Health); MT Silani, S Teti (Regional Office for Education—Lazio); L Censi, D D’Addesa, A De Luca (National Research Institute on Food and Nutrition); F Cavallo (Department of Public Health and Microbiology, University of Turin); A Ciglia, M Di Giacomo (Abruzzo Region), G Ammirati, G Cauzillo, G Sorrentino (Basilicata Region), C Azzarito, M La Rocca, G Perri (Calabria Region), R Pizzuti (Campania Region), P Angelini, E Di Martino, M Fridel (Emilia Romagna Region), C Carletti, A Cattaneo (Friuli Venezia Giulia Region), G Cairella, E Castronuovo (Lazio Region), F Pascali, S Schiaffino (Liguria Region), AR Silvestri (ASL Milano, Lombardia Region), E Benedetti, S De Introna, G Giostra (Marche Region), TM Selvaggi, O Valentini, C Di Nucci (Molise Region), M Caputo, P Ferrari (Piemonte Region), S Anelli, G Rosa, E Viesti (Puglia), S Meloni, R Masala, ML Senis (Sardegna Region), A Cernigliaro, S Rizzo (Sicilia Region), M Giacchi (Toscana Region), M Cristofori, M Brinchi, MD Giaimo (Umbria Region), AM Covarino, G D’Alessandro (Valle D’Aosta Region), R Galesso (Veneto Region), A Fanolla, L Lucchin, S Weiss (Bolzano Autonomous Province), S Piffer (Trento Autonomous Province). The Surveillance System OKkio alla SALUTE is funded by the Italian Ministry of Health/Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center of Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy

    F L Lombardo, A Spinelli, A Lamberti, P Nardone & M Buoncristiano

  2. Department Molecular and Developmental Medicine, CREPS-Research Centre for Health Promotion and Education, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    G Lazzeri & V Pilato

  3. Health Authority NA3 Sud, Vico Equense, Naples, Italy

    G Mazzarella

  4. Brindisi Local Health Authority, Brindisi, Italy

    M Caroli

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Correspondence to F L Lombardo.

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Lombardo, F., Spinelli, A., Lazzeri, G. et al. Severe obesity prevalence in 8- to 9-year-old Italian children: a large population-based study. Eur J Clin Nutr 69, 603–608 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2014.188

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