EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY ON SIMPLE OBESITY OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN IN FUZHOU CITY AND INFLUENCING FACTORS

Huang Miao-HuiChen Su-QingWu Bin

Department of Pediatric, the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China

 

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of simple obesity of preschool children in Fuzhou and the affecting factors.

METHODS: A survey of 1188 preschool children aged 3~7 years was conducted in ten kindergartens using a cohort multi-stage sampling technique, following a 1:2 (obesity: normal) matched investigation with a questionnaire in 1999. The date was analyzed by chi-square test and conditional Logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: 59 simple obesity were found. The prevalence of simple obesity was 4.98% in Fuzhou city. The rate of simple obesity increased gradually with age, but no difference between in male and female preschool children. Conditional multiple Logistic regression model analysis of the data demonstrated significant independent relationships between simple obesity in preschool children and the following factors: parents' lack of knowledge of nutrition, unreasonable dietary pattern, less activity, later discovery of obesity and birth overweight.

CONCLUSION: The finding indicated clues for intervention against these major causes of simple obesity in preschool children. Popular education of nutrition knowledge, set up the balanced nutrition and good dietary habits, adequate arrangement of physical activity and earlier discovery of obesity will promote to lower prevalence of obesity of preschool children.

 
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