Prevalence and influencing factors of obesity in preschool children in Suzhou, China.

BACKGROUND

The study aims to assess the prevalence of obesity among preschool children in Suzhou, China, and analyze potential risk factors to the condition.

METHODS

The study included preschool children aged 3-6 from various kindergartens in Suzhou. Height and weight measurements were used to determine obesity status, while parents completed questionnaires on relevant information. The Chi-square test was applied to compare obesity rates across groups, and stepwise logistic regression analysis identified associated risk factors for obesity.

RESULTS

Eight hundred and forty-eight preschoolers participated. The overall obesity prevalence was 14.0%, with 4.0% categorized as moderately obese (and 7.5% as mildly obese. Boys had a higher obesity prevalence than girls (15.3% vs. 12.7%), and rural children higher than urban children (17.2% vs. 13.1%), although these differences were not statistically significant. Obesity was most prevalent among 3-year-olds (16.1%) and least prevalent among 6-year-olds (11.2%). Logistic regression identified age (boys: OR=0.30; 95%CI: 0.19-0.38, girls: OR=0.24; 95%CI: 0.17-0.36), height (boys: OR=1.21; 95%CI: 1.16-1.26, girls: OR=1.25; 95%CI: 1.18-1.38), and urban location (boys: OR=0.60; 95%CI: 0.34-0.86, girls: OR=0.48; 95%CI: 0.31-0.84) as significant independent predictors for obesity in preschool children in Suzhou, China.

CONCLUSIONS

The obesity rate among preschool children in Suzhou is 14.0%. The study highlights lower age, higher height, and rural location as important factors influencing obesity in both sex.