Kamali Amanda, Hameed Heena, Shih Margaret, Simon Paul
Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Acute Communicable Disease Control, Los Angeles, California.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Office of Health Assessment and Epidemiology, Los Angeles, California.
Prev Chronic Dis. 2017 Feb 16;14:E16. doi: 10.5888/pcd14.160377.
After multiple decades of increasing childhood obesity prevalence in the United States, findings from recent studies suggest that prevalence has leveled or is decreasing in some populations. However, demographic and socioeconomic disparities in prevalence remain and may be increasing.
To assess recent trends and disparities in childhood obesity prevalence in Los Angeles County, we analyzed data from 2001 through 2013 in fifth graders in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Obesity was defined as a body mass index at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex as compared with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts, on the basis of measured height and weight. Trends were examined by sex, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES). SES was determined by using school-level data on the percentage of students participating in a free and reduced-price meal program.
Obesity prevalence increased from 27.5% in 2001 to 31.6% in 2005, was stable from 2005 through 2010, and decreased from 31.6% in 2010 to 28.5% in 2013. Similar trajectories in prevalence were observed for all demographic and SES subgroups, although the decline in prevalence began earlier among whites and students attending schools in the highest SES group. Disparities in prevalence by race/ethnicity and SES were observed during the entire study period but narrowed slightly from 2010 through 2013.
Although obesity prevalence among fifth graders in LAUSD declined from 2010 through 2013, prevalence remains higher than in 2001, and demographic and socioeconomic disparities in prevalence persist. Future interventions in the county should prioritize Latinos and students attending low SES schools.
在美国儿童肥胖患病率持续数十年上升之后，近期研究结果表明，在一些人群中患病率已趋于平稳或正在下降。然而，患病率在人口统计学和社会经济方面的差异依然存在，且可能正在扩大。
为评估洛杉矶县儿童肥胖患病率的近期趋势及差异，我们分析了2001年至2013年洛杉矶联合学区（LAUSD）五年级学生的数据。根据疾病控制与预防中心的生长图表，通过测量身高和体重，将肥胖定义为与同年龄、同性别的儿童相比，体重指数达到或超过第95百分位。按性别、种族/族裔和社会经济地位（SES）对趋势进行了研究。SES通过学校层面参与免费和减价膳食计划的学生百分比数据来确定。
肥胖患病率从2001年的27.5%上升至2005年的31.6%，2005年至2010年保持稳定，2010年从31.6%降至2013年的28.5%。所有人口统计学和SES亚组的患病率轨迹相似，尽管白人以及就读于SES最高组学校的学生患病率下降开始得更早。在整个研究期间都观察到了种族/族裔和SES方面的患病率差异，但从2010年至2013年略有缩小。
尽管2010年至2013年LAUSD五年级学生的肥胖患病率有所下降，但仍高于2001年，且患病率在人口统计学和社会经济方面的差异依然存在。该县未来的干预措施应优先针对拉丁裔以及就读于低SES学校的学生。
