Child Body Mass Index in East China Compared to Western References
Author Information
Author(s): Pan Huiqi, Jiang Yifang, Jing Xinming, Fu Sulin, Jiang Yan, Lin Zhongfang, Sheng Zhihua, Cole Tim J.
Primary Institution: MRC Centre of Epidemiology for Child Health, UCL Institute of Child Health, UK
Hypothesis
How does the distribution of body mass index (BMI) by age in children from four cities in East China compare to Western references?
Conclusion
Child obesity in China is linked to early life factors and economic development, with boys showing higher BMI than girls.
Supporting Evidence
- Chinese boys were fatter than US boys in early to mid-childhood but less so in adolescence.
- Shanghai children were appreciably fatter in 2000 than in 1986.
- The adiposity rebound was earlier in boys than girls within China.
Takeaway
This study looked at how heavy kids are in four cities in China and found that boys are generally heavier than girls, especially when they are younger.
Methodology
The study measured the height and weight of children aged 0-19 years from four cities in East China between 1999 and 2004, using the LMS method to construct BMI centiles.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the lack of formal ethical permission for routine measurements.
Limitations
The study only included urban children and did not account for rural populations.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 0-19 years from Shanghai, Jinan, Xuzhou, and Hefei.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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