Abstract
The investigation of prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Czech Republic was performed by 57 physicians in a total of 47,051 children since birth till their 18 years of age. The examination was made at the age categories of 5, 13 and 18 years in 7,427 children, 3,780 boys (51%) and 3,647 girls (49%).
The criterion for overweight was selected as 90th to 97th percentile of BMI and obese children were considered those at 97th percentile and higher in BMI according to the 5th All-state Anthropological Investigation of Children and Youth in the Czech Republic in 1991. Overweight was established in 1.8% and obesity in 4.2% of children.
Overweight was detected in 1.7% of boys and 1.8% of girls and obesity in 3.9% of boys and 4.4% of girls. At the age of 5 years overweight was observed in 1.6% of children and obesity in 3.6% of them, while at the age of 13 years, overweight was in 2.6% and obesity in 5.7% children and at the age of 18 years, overweight was present in 1.2% and obesity in 3.0%.
These results indicate that incidence of overweight and obesity in children is not as frightening as might be expected and its prevalence has not been growing. In contrast there seems to have been a decline over the last years.
Prevalence of obesity in 4.2% of children is still alarming and especially this part of children should be devoted maximum attention by pediatricians as well as the public.