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A national study of the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 6–12 y-old Swiss children: body mass index, body-weight perceptions and goals

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 54, pages 568–572 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Swiss children and to obtain information on weight perceptions and weight control practices in this population.

Design: Cross-sectional, three-stage, probability-proportionate-to-size cluster sampling.

Setting: Middle schools throughout Switzerland.

Subjects: A representative national sample of 595 6–12 y-old schoolchildren.

Intervention: Measurement of weight and height; interview on weight perceptions and weight control practices.

Results: Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and used as an indicator of overweight. The BMIs of the Swiss children were compared with US, UK, French and Swiss reference data. Depending on which reference data were used, the prevalence of obesity varied between 9.7 and 16.1% and the prevalence of overweight varied between 21.7 and 34.2%. Girls were significantly more likely to consider themselves too fat (26% and 15%, respectively) and to report currently trying to lose weight (30% and 18%, respectively) compared to boys (P<0.05).

Conclusions: The prevalence of overweight in Swiss children, and its attendant health and social consequences, are important public health concerns.

Sponsorship: The Swiss Foundation for Nutrition Research, Zürich, Switzerland.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 568–572

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Human Nutrition Laboratory, Institute for Food Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich, Switzerland

    MB Zimmermann, SY Hess & RF Hurrell

Authors
  1. MB Zimmermann
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  2. SY Hess
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  3. RF Hurrell
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Contributions

Guarantor: M Zimmermann.

Contributors: All the authors contributed to the study design. MZ and SH did the field work and data collections. MZ did the statistical analyses, and all the authors assisted in the writing of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to MB Zimmermann.

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Zimmermann, M., Hess, S. & Hurrell, R. A national study of the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 6–12 y-old Swiss children: body mass index, body-weight perceptions and goals. Eur J Clin Nutr 54, 568–572 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601058

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601058

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