Prevalence of overweight/obesity and fitness level in preschool children from the north compared with the south of Europe: an exploration with two countries

Summary Background North–south differences in the prevalence of obesity and fitness levels have been found in European adolescents, yet it is unknown if such differences already exist in very young children. Objectives This study aims to compare the prevalence of overweight/obesity and fitness level...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatric obesity 2016-10, Vol.11 (5), p.403-410
Main Authors: Cadenas-Sanchez, C., Nyström, C., Sanchez-Delgado, G., Martinez-Tellez, B., Mora-Gonzalez, J., Risinger, A. S., Ruiz, J. R., Ortega, F. B., Löf, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropometry
Body mass index
cardiorespiratory fitness
Child, Preschool
Childrens health
Comparative analysis
Cross-Sectional Studies
Europe - epidemiology
Female
Humans
Male
Medicin och hälsovetenskap
motor fitness
muscular strength
Obesity
Overweight - epidemiology
Pediatric Obesity - epidemiology
Pediatrics
Physical Fitness
Preschool children
Prevalence
Spain - epidemiology
Sweden - epidemiology
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Summary:Summary Background North–south differences in the prevalence of obesity and fitness levels have been found in European adolescents, yet it is unknown if such differences already exist in very young children. Objectives This study aims to compare the prevalence of overweight/obesity and fitness levels in preschool children aged 4 years from Sweden (north of Europe) and Spain (south of Europe). Methods The sample consisted of 315 Swedish and 128 Spanish preschoolers. Anthropometry (weight, height, waist circumference) and fitness (strength, speed–agility, balance and cardiorespiratory fitness) were assessed. Analysis of covariance adjusted for age, sex and height/body mass index (BMI) was used. Results Preschool children from Sweden had lower prevalence of overweight/obesity than their peers from Spain (World Obesity Federation, mean difference, MD = −9%, P = 0.010; World Health Organization, MD = −11%, P = 0.011). Concerning fitness, preschoolers from Spain were more fit in terms of upper‐muscular strength (MD = +0.4 kg, P = 0.010), speed–agility (MD = −1.9 s, P = 0.001), balance (MD = +4.0 s, P = 0.001) and cardiorespiratory fitness (MD = boys = +6.6 laps, girls = +2.3 laps; P 
ISSN:2047-6302
2047-6310
2047-6310
DOI:10.1111/ijpo.12079