Prevalence of overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity in the Spanish population aged 3 to 24 years. The ENPE study

Abstract

Introduction and objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of excess weight and abdominal obesity (AO), based on individual anthropometric measurements, according to various criteria in the Spanish population aged 3 to 24 years and to analyze their distribution by age and sex.

Methods: We analyzed data from the ENPE study. This analysis included the population aged 3 to 24 years (n=1601). Anthropometric measurements were taken in participants' homes by trained observers following standardized international protocols. We defined overweight and obesity according to the International Obesity Task Force, World Health Organization, and Orbegozo 2011 criteria, and AO according to a waist-to-height index ≥ 0.5, Taylor criteria, and the 90th percentile of Orbegozo 2011.

Results: The prevalence of excess weight (overweight+obesity) exceeded 30% with all the criteria used. The prevalence of excess overweight (International Obesity Task Force) was estimated at 34.1% (95%CI, 31.8-36.4) and obesity at 10.3% (95%CI, 8.9-11.9). The estimated prevalence of AO (waist-to-height index ≥ 0.5) was 31.2% (95%CI, 29.0-33.5), and 20.9% (95%CI, 18.1-22.1) satisfied all 3 criteria. A total of 16% (95%CI, 13.8-17.8) were overweight and had concomitant AO.

Conclusions: The prevalence of overweight, obesity and AO in the Spanish population aged 3 to 24 years old is high and is higher in men than in women. When distinct criteria were used, the prevalence of AO was approximately 30%. Among persons classified as obese by the 3 criteria, 71.6% were also classified as having AO according to distinct cutoffs.

Keywords: Abdominal obesity; Adolescentes; Adolescents; Children; Estudios poblacionales; Niños; Obesidad; Obesidad abdominal; Obesity; Population studies; Prevalence; Prevalencia.