Concern has been expressed in recent years over the rising trends in overweight and obesity, particularly in children in developed countries. No recent data were available for Northern Ireland; therefore measurements of height and weight were included in a study in Northern Ireland originally designed as part of an international study to estimate the prevalence of symptoms of asthma and atopy in childhood. Twenty-six schools across the province were sampled, 2484 children aged mainly 13 and 14 y completed questionnaires, and 2307 were weighed and measured. Using recently proposed international guidelines on defining overweight and obesity in children the prevalence of overweight in boys was 16%, with 4% being obese. In girls 16% were also overweight and 2% were obese. This concurs with figures for English and Scottish schoolchildren up to 12 y of age from 1994. Less than one-sixth of obese boys but more than one-third of obese girls were on weight-reducing diets (the majority self-prescribed), reflecting differing attitudes towards excess weight. Conclusion: In line with figures in younger children from England and Scotland this study shows that 16% of boys and girls from Northern Ireland are classed as overweight using recent international guidelines. Only 15% of obese boys compared with 38% of obese girls stated that they were on weight-reducing diets.
Language | English |
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Pages | 1435-1439 |
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Journal | Acta Paediatrica |
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Volume | 90 |
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Issue number | 12 |
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Publication status | Published - Dec 2001 |
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Cite this
Yarnell, JWG., McCrum, EE., Patterson, CC., Skidmore, P., Shields, MD., McMahon, J., & Evans, AE. (2001).
Prevalence and Awareness of Excess Weight in 13 and 14 Year Olds in Northern Ireland Using Recent International Guidelines.
Acta Paediatrica,
90(12), 1435-1439.
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title = "Prevalence and Awareness of Excess Weight in 13 and 14 Year Olds in Northern Ireland Using Recent International Guidelines",
abstract = "Concern has been expressed in recent years over the rising trends in overweight and obesity, particularly in children in developed countries. No recent data were available for Northern Ireland; therefore measurements of height and weight were included in a study in Northern Ireland originally designed as part of an international study to estimate the prevalence of symptoms of asthma and atopy in childhood. Twenty-six schools across the province were sampled, 2484 children aged mainly 13 and 14 y completed questionnaires, and 2307 were weighed and measured. Using recently proposed international guidelines on defining overweight and obesity in children the prevalence of overweight in boys was 16{\%}, with 4{\%} being obese. In girls 16{\%} were also overweight and 2{\%} were obese. This concurs with figures for English and Scottish schoolchildren up to 12 y of age from 1994. Less than one-sixth of obese boys but more than one-third of obese girls were on weight-reducing diets (the majority self-prescribed), reflecting differing attitudes towards excess weight. Conclusion: In line with figures in younger children from England and Scotland this study shows that 16{\%} of boys and girls from Northern Ireland are classed as overweight using recent international guidelines. Only 15{\%} of obese boys compared with 38{\%} of obese girls stated that they were on weight-reducing diets.",
author = "JWG Yarnell and EE McCrum and CC Patterson and P Skidmore and MD Shields and J McMahon and AE Evans",
year = "2001",
month = "12",
language = "English",
volume = "90",
pages = "1435--1439",
journal = "Acta Paediatrica",
issn = "0803-5253",
number = "12",
}
Yarnell, JWG, McCrum, EE, Patterson, CC, Skidmore, P, Shields, MD, McMahon, J & Evans, AE 2001, '
Prevalence and Awareness of Excess Weight in 13 and 14 Year Olds in Northern Ireland Using Recent International Guidelines',
Acta Paediatrica, vol. 90, no. 12, pp. 1435-1439.
Prevalence and Awareness of Excess Weight in 13 and 14 Year Olds in Northern Ireland Using Recent International Guidelines. / Yarnell, JWG; McCrum, EE; Patterson, CC; Skidmore, P; Shields, MD; McMahon, J; Evans, AE.
In:
Acta Paediatrica, Vol. 90, No. 12, 12.2001, p. 1435-1439.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence and Awareness of Excess Weight in 13 and 14 Year Olds in Northern Ireland Using Recent International Guidelines
AU - Yarnell, JWG
AU - McCrum, EE
AU - Patterson, CC
AU - Skidmore, P
AU - Shields, MD
AU - McMahon, J
AU - Evans, AE
PY - 2001/12
Y1 - 2001/12
N2 - Concern has been expressed in recent years over the rising trends in overweight and obesity, particularly in children in developed countries. No recent data were available for Northern Ireland; therefore measurements of height and weight were included in a study in Northern Ireland originally designed as part of an international study to estimate the prevalence of symptoms of asthma and atopy in childhood. Twenty-six schools across the province were sampled, 2484 children aged mainly 13 and 14 y completed questionnaires, and 2307 were weighed and measured. Using recently proposed international guidelines on defining overweight and obesity in children the prevalence of overweight in boys was 16%, with 4% being obese. In girls 16% were also overweight and 2% were obese. This concurs with figures for English and Scottish schoolchildren up to 12 y of age from 1994. Less than one-sixth of obese boys but more than one-third of obese girls were on weight-reducing diets (the majority self-prescribed), reflecting differing attitudes towards excess weight. Conclusion: In line with figures in younger children from England and Scotland this study shows that 16% of boys and girls from Northern Ireland are classed as overweight using recent international guidelines. Only 15% of obese boys compared with 38% of obese girls stated that they were on weight-reducing diets.
AB - Concern has been expressed in recent years over the rising trends in overweight and obesity, particularly in children in developed countries. No recent data were available for Northern Ireland; therefore measurements of height and weight were included in a study in Northern Ireland originally designed as part of an international study to estimate the prevalence of symptoms of asthma and atopy in childhood. Twenty-six schools across the province were sampled, 2484 children aged mainly 13 and 14 y completed questionnaires, and 2307 were weighed and measured. Using recently proposed international guidelines on defining overweight and obesity in children the prevalence of overweight in boys was 16%, with 4% being obese. In girls 16% were also overweight and 2% were obese. This concurs with figures for English and Scottish schoolchildren up to 12 y of age from 1994. Less than one-sixth of obese boys but more than one-third of obese girls were on weight-reducing diets (the majority self-prescribed), reflecting differing attitudes towards excess weight. Conclusion: In line with figures in younger children from England and Scotland this study shows that 16% of boys and girls from Northern Ireland are classed as overweight using recent international guidelines. Only 15% of obese boys compared with 38% of obese girls stated that they were on weight-reducing diets.
M3 - Article
VL - 90
SP - 1435
EP - 1439
JO - Acta Paediatrica
T2 - Acta Paediatrica
JF - Acta Paediatrica
SN - 0803-5253
IS - 12
ER -