Global prevalence and trends of overweight and obesity among preschool children
Open accessAbstract
Background Childhood obesity is associated with serious health problems and the risk of premature illness and death later in life. Monitoring related trends is important.Objective The objective was to quantify the worldwide prevalence and trends of overweight and obesity among preschool children on the basis of the new World Health Organization standards.Design A total of 450 nationally representative cross-sectional surveys from 144 countries were analyzed. Overweight and obesity were defined as the proportion of preschool children with values >2 SDs and >3 SDs, respectively, from the World Health Organization growth standard median. Being "at risk of overweight" was defined as the proportion with values >1 SD and ≤2 SDs, respectively. Linear mixed-effects modeling was used to estimate the rates and numbers of affected children.Results In 2010, 43 million children (35 million in developing countries) were estimated to be overweight and obese; 92 million were at risk of overweight. The worldwide prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity increased from 4.2% (95% CI: 3.2%, 5.2%) in 1990 to 6.7% (95% CI: 5.6%, 7.7%) in 2010. This trend is expected to reach 9.1% (95% CI: 7.3%, 10.9%), or ≈60 million, in 2020. The estimated prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in Africa in 2010 was 8.5% (95% CI: 7.4%, 9.5%) and is expected to reach 12.7% (95% CI: 10.6%, 14.8%) in 2020. The prevalence is lower in Asia than in Africa (4.9% in 2010), but the number of affected children (18 million) is higher in Asia.Conclusions Childhood overweight and obesity have increased dramatically since 1990. These findings confirm the need for effective interventions starting as early as infancy to reverse anticipated trends.
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The modern rise in overweight and obesity is also occurring in children across most nations.
“This modern rise in overweight and obesity is also occurring in children across most nations.43”
From Dietary and Policy Priorities for Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, and Obesity: A Comprehensive Review (2016) · cites this paper as [43]
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- Authors
- de Onis, M., Blössner, M., & Borghi, E.
- Affiliations
- World Health Organization (CH)
- ORCID
- Borghi, Elaine
- Venue
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-11
- Volume
- 92
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1257-1264
- ISSN
- 0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2098216987
- Cited by
- 2,182
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 112 · 2021: 120 · 2020: 151 · 2019: 163 · 2018: 180 · 2017: 217 · 2016: 226 · 2015: 230 · 2014: 249 · 2013: 187 · 2012: 140
- FWCI
- 122.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Risks and Factors
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Obesity and Health Practices
- Keywords
- childhood obesity, childhood overweight, preschool children, global prevalence, prevalence trends, WHO growth standards, developing countries, Africa, Asia, obesity projections
- MeSH terms
- Child, Preschool, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Infant, Male, Obesity, Global Health, Prevalence, Overweight
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