Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of overweight and obesity in a large Pan-European cohort of preschool children and their families: the ToyBox study.
OBJECTIVES
Health inequalities are observed among different regions and socioeconomic groups. The present study aimed to record the prevalence of overweight and obesityamong preschoolers across six European countries in relation to sociodemographic and family factors.


METHODS
A total of 7554 preschool-aged children and their parents participated in the ToyBox-study. Children's weight and height were measured and parents self-reported their weight, height, and family sociodemographic data using questionnaires. Data were obtained in May and June 2012.


RESULTS
The prevalence of overweight and obesity ranged from 10.0% in Germany to 20.6% in Greece and was found to be higher in children from low socioeconomic status (SES) families as well as children with two overweight or obese parents. Children from low-SES families and children with overweight or obese parents were more likely to be overweight or obese compared with their peers from medium- or high-SES families or those with normal-weight parents, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
In a large sample of European preschoolers, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be higher in Southern and Eastern European countries compared with Central and Northern European countries. Higher prevalence was recorded among low-SES families and in children with overweight or obese parents, which indicates that these areas and vulnerable groups need to be prioritized to close the gap in health and social inequalities and provide more effective prevention of early childhood obesity.
['Manios|Yannis|Y|', 'Androutsos|Odysseas|O|', 'Katsarou|Christina|C|', 'Vampouli|Eleni Anna|EA|', 'Kulaga|Zbigniew|Z|', 'Gurzkowska|Beata|B|', 'Iotova|Violeta|V|', 'Usheva|Natalya|N|', 'Cardon|Greet|G|', 'Koletzko|Berthold|B|', 'Moreno|Luis A|LA|', 'De Bourdeaudhuij|Ilse|I|']
D000886:Anthropometry D015992:Body Mass Index D002675:Child, Preschool D015331:Cohort Studies D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D005060:Europe D005191:Family Characteristics D005260:Female D054624:Health Status Disparities D006801:Humans D008297:Male D010290:Parents D063766:Pediatric Obesity D015995:Prevalence D012307:Risk Factors D012923:Social Class D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
Obesity Preschool Children Vulnerable groups Low socioeconomic group