Prevalence of overweight and obesity among school-aged children in urban, rural and mountain areas of the Veneto Region, Italy

Objective: To define the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school-aged children resident in mountain areas, rural areas and urban areas. Design, setting and subjects: The sample (n=12 832; 50.7% boys) included 9- and 11-year-old children of the Veneto Region of north-east Italy. Overweight and obesity status were determined using the International Obesity Task Force cut-off points for body mass index. The prevalence of overweight and obese subjects was calculated with a confidence interval of 95%. The Mantel-Haenszel method was used to compare the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity among children resident in mountain areas, rural areas and urban areas. Results: Among boys the prevalence of overweight was 21.06%, while obesity prevalence was 5.92%; among girls overweight prevalence was 21.30%, while obesity prevalence ws 5.15%. The prevalence was higher among 11-year-old boys (odds ratio (OR)=1.19; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-1.33) and 9-year-old girls (OR=1.13; 95% CI: 1.01-1.26). Children resident in rural areas presented a higher risk of overweight and obesity compared with children resident in moutain areas (Mantel-Haenszel OR=1.27; 95% CI: 1.13-1.42; chi(2)=17.55; P<0.0001) and in urban areas (Mantel-Haenszel OR=1.18; 95% CI: 1.07-1.31; chi(2)=10.39; P<0.001). Conclusions: A relevant prevalence of overweight and obesity was found; the excess weight concerns one child in four. There are difference linked to different geographical areas that must be further investigated.