Increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among Jena children

Objective: To examine changes in Body Mass index (BMI) in children in the last twenty years and to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Design and Subjects: Body height and body weight were measured in Jena school children 7 to 14 years of age in cross-sectional anthropological investigations in 1975, 1985 and 1995 and from these measurements the Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. The investigated children were classified as overweight or obese by the age- and sex-specific 90th or 97th percentile values of BMI from Rolland-Cachera et al.[31] recommended by the European Childhood Obesity Group. Results: Between 1975 and 1995 the BMI of Jena children increased. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among the children increased also. These changes were striking between 1985 and 1995. Conclusions: Changing living conditions, e. g. changes in the leisure-time lifestyle,in dietary practices and in the families, related to the unification of Germany in 1989, may be caused this trend.