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Overweight and obesity in Irish primary schools: retrospective cohort study
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UNSPECIFIED (2005) Overweight and obesity in Irish primary schools: retrospective cohort study. CHILD CARE HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, 31 (5). pp. 499-506. ISSN 0305-1862.
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Abstract
Background This retrospective cohort study investigates the feasibility of using established methods and routinely generated data from the statutory primary school health-screening programme to estimate prevalence rates for childhood overweight and obesity in children from a rural area in the Republic of Ireland (ROI).
Method Paper-based records in the primary school health service for County Leitrim and parts of County Cavan in north-west of ROI were hand searched to identify children attending senior infant classes during academic year 2001/2002. Electronic calculation of body mass index (BMI) and age at examination was carried out. Application of age- and sex-specific cut-off points from international Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and United Kingdom (UK) standard definitions for childhood overweight and obesity was used to determine age- and sex-specific prevalence rates for childhood overweight and obesity.
Results The eligible cohort was almost completely identified and consisted of 361 children. Weight and height measurements were available on 328 (91%) children aged between 4.22 and 7.92 years. IOTF standard application gave prevalence rates of 25% for obesity and overweight in boys and 26% in girls. With the UK growth standard, this increased to 34% in boys and reduced to 23% in girls.
Conclusion It is feasible to generate prevalence rates for childhood overweight and obesity from data routinely obtained through the statutory school health-screening programme in ROI. This study suggests levels of childhood overweight and obesity comparable to other Western societies. Further research on developing a universally accepted standard definition of childhood overweight and obesity is required.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
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Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics |
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Journal or Publication Title: | CHILD CARE HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT | ||||
Publisher: | BLACKWELL PUBLISHING | ||||
ISSN: | 0305-1862 | ||||
Official Date: | September 2005 | ||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | 31 | ||||
Number: | 5 | ||||
Number of Pages: | 8 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 499-506 | ||||
Publication Status: | Published |
Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge
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