Gortmaker S L, Dietz W H, Sobol A M, Wehler C A
Am J Dis Child. 1987 May;141(5):535-40. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1987.04460050077035.
Data from four national surveys indicate pronounced increases in the prevalence of pediatric obesity in the United States. Obese children are defined as those with triceps skinfolds greater than or equal to the 85th percentile of children of the same age and sex in 1963 to 1970. Superobese children are those with skinfolds greater than or equal to the 95th percentile. Compared with skinfold data from the 1963 to 1965 National Health Examination Survey, cycle 2, skinfold data from the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted from 1976 to 1980, indicate a 54% increase in the prevalence of obesity among children 6 to 11 years old and a 98% increase in the prevalence of superobesity. Compared with skinfold data from the 1966 to 1970 National Health Examination Survey, cycle 3, skinfold data from the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicate a 39% increase in the prevalence of obesity among children 12 to 17 years old and a 64% increase in the prevalence of superobesity. Increases occurred among children of all ages and both sexes and for both blacks and whites. Blood pressure data from the four surveys suggest that the share of pediatric hypertension associated with obesity has increased. Such rapid increases in obesity indicate that environmental causes are likely responsible.
四项全国性调查的数据表明，美国儿童肥胖症的患病率显著上升。肥胖儿童被定义为三头肌皮褶厚度大于或等于1963年至1970年同年龄、同性别的儿童第85百分位数的儿童。超级肥胖儿童是指皮褶厚度大于或等于第95百分位数的儿童。与1963年至1965年全国健康检查调查第2轮的皮褶数据相比，1976年至1980年进行的第二次全国健康和营养检查调查的皮褶数据显示，6至11岁儿童肥胖症患病率上升了54%，超级肥胖症患病率上升了98%。与1966年至1970年全国健康检查调查第3轮的皮褶数据相比，第二次全国健康和营养检查调查的皮褶数据显示，12至17岁儿童肥胖症患病率上升了39%，超级肥胖症患病率上升了64%。各年龄段、男女以及黑人和白人儿童的肥胖率均有所上升。四项调查的血压数据表明，与肥胖相关的儿童高血压比例有所增加。肥胖症如此迅速的上升表明，环境因素可能是原因所在。
