Tambalis K D, Panagiotakos D B, Psarra G, Sidossis L S
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
J Prev Med Hyg. 2019 Dec 20;60(4):E386-E393. doi: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2019.60.4.1374. eCollection 2019 Dec.
Thinness affects more children and adolescents than obesity. Thus, the aim of the study is to examine the recent estimates of thinness and associated risk factors, and to identify trends in thinness, among Greek schoolchildren.
Epidemiological study. Population data from the recent estimates are derived from a school-based health survey polled in 2015 on 336,014 participants aged 4- to 17-years-old. To assess trends of thinness (1996-2015) we included a total of 300,104 children aged 8- to 9-years-old. Physical activity, dietary habits and sedentary activities were assessed through self-completed questionnaires. The gender and age-specific body mass index cut-off points proposed by International Obesity Task Force were used in order to define weight groups.
Percent 8.4% of girls and 6.5% of boys were thin (all grades included). The prevalence of thinness decreased with age more in boys (from 13.8% at 4-years-old to 5.1% at 17-years-old, p < 0.001), than in girls (from 10.9% at 4-years-old to 8.7% at 17-years-old, p < 0.001). Sufficient dietary habits (OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.77-0.97) and adequate physical activity levels (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.85-0.99) were associated with decreased risk of thinness. Thin schoolchildren performed better in aerobic fitness test than normalweight ones. Between 1996 and 2015, thinness rates decreased from 8.0% to 6.5% in boys (p = 0.046) and from 10.6% to 8.4% in girls (p = 0.036).
Our results suggest that thinness is a significant overlooked phenomenon. Although the prevalence of thinness has decreased the last two decades among Greek schoolchildren, actions need to be taken from public policy makers in order to establish and maintain a healthy body weight.
消瘦对儿童和青少年的影响比肥胖更为普遍。因此，本研究旨在调查希腊学童近期消瘦情况的估计数据及相关风险因素，并确定消瘦的发展趋势。
流行病学研究。近期估计的人群数据来自于2015年对336,014名4至17岁参与者进行的一项基于学校的健康调查。为评估消瘦趋势（1996 - 2015年），我们纳入了总共300,104名8至9岁的儿童。通过自我填写问卷来评估身体活动、饮食习惯和久坐活动情况。采用国际肥胖特别工作组提出的按性别和年龄划分的体重指数切点来定义体重组。
在所有年级中，8.4%的女孩和6.5%的男孩消瘦。男孩消瘦患病率随年龄下降幅度更大（从4岁时的13.8%降至17岁时的5.1%，p < 0.001），高于女孩（从4岁时的10.9%降至17岁时的8.7%，p < 0.001）。良好的饮食习惯（比值比：0.87，95%置信区间：0.77 - 0.97）和充足的身体活动水平（比值比：0.92，95%置信区间：0.85 - 0.99）与消瘦风险降低相关。消瘦的学童在有氧适能测试中的表现优于体重正常的学童。1996年至2015年间，男孩消瘦率从8.0%降至6.5%（p = 0.046），女孩从10.6%降至8.4%（p = 0.036）。
我们的结果表明，消瘦是一个被严重忽视的重要现象。尽管在过去二十年中希腊学童的消瘦患病率有所下降，但公共政策制定者仍需采取行动，以建立和维持健康体重。
