Abstract:

Objective   To investigate the risk factors and the prevalence of overweight and obesity for children aged 7-12 years old in rural areas of 3 counties in Shandong Province. Methods   A cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged 7-12 years old from 17 randomly selected villages of 3 counties in Shandong Province from September 2009 to January 2010. Chi-square test and logistic regression methods were used to analyze the risk factors on overweight and obesity in children. Results   The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children aged 7-12 years old in rural areas of Shandong Province were 11.41% and 5.86% respectively and there was no significant difference in the prevalence of overweight or obesity between boys and girls. Multiple analyses showed that the factors influencing the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children were the time of watching TV(OR=3.062, 95%CI:1.708-4.932), the sleeping time(OR=2.693, 95%CI:1.136-5.641), the frequency of having fried food(OR=2.024, 95%CI:1.041-3.570), the frequency of having puffed food(OR=2.304, 95%CI:1.208-5.416), birth weight (OR= 1.615, 95%CI:1.0132.742) and overweight or obesity in parents(OR=1.846, 95%CI:1.109~3.520). Conclusion   The proportions of overweight and obesity in children aged 7-12 years old in rural areas of 3 counties in Shandong Province are high, and we should pay attention to prenatal nutrition, children′s dietary habits and life styles so as to prevent overweight and obesity in children.

Key words: Overweight; Obesity; Children; Rural areas; Body mass index; Risk factors