Alarming prevalences of overweight and obesity for children of Turkish, Moroccan and Dutch origin in The Netherlands according to international standards

Acta Paediatr. 2005 Apr;94(4):496-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2005.tb01923.x.

Abstract

Aim: Prevalences of overweight in The Netherlands, defined by international cut-off points, are presented in 14 500 children of Dutch origin, 2904 of Turkish and 2855 of Moroccan origin, aged 0-21 y.

Results: The mean prevalence for Turkish boys and girls was 23.4% and 30.2%, for Moroccans 15.8% and 24.5%, for Dutch youths in large cities 12.6% and 16.5%, and for other Dutch participants 8.7% and 11.3%, respectively.

Conclusion: The development of adequate prevention strategies is urgently needed.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Body Mass Index
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Ethnicity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Morocco / ethnology
  • Netherlands / epidemiology
  • Obesity / epidemiology*
  • Prevalence
  • Turkey / ethnology