Growing concern over obesity in city children

By Yang Lifei  |   2008-7-9  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

RESEARCHERS are concerned about growing obesity among children in Shanghai after a study found children here are getting close to the average height and weight of those in the United States.

The researchers, led by Jiang Yifang, dean of children's nutrition at the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai's Jiao Tong University, found boys aged 10 to 15 were slightly taller and heavier on average than those in the US. Other age groups were not as tall on average.

Girls aged 10 to 13 were a little taller on average than US girls of the same age, the survey found.

In 2006, the research team recorded the height and weight of 6,277 boys and 5,743 girls under five years throughout Shanghai and compared the figures to those of 10,541 local boys and 9,904 girls in the same age bracket in 2001.

The study showed that the average height and weight for both increased sharply but the numbers of overweight or obese children were almost equal to those of 2001.

However, in 2004, Jiang's team collected weight and height records from 11,103 boys and 10,328 girls between six and 11. Jiang found these children weighed more than their counterparts in 1999.

Jiang said the number of overweight and obese boys increased an average of 2.3 percent and 3.9 percent respectively every year from 1999 to 2004, while the rate for overweight or obese girls climbed an average of 1.2 percent and 2.5 percent.

"It clearly indicates that primary school students are in danger of becoming either overweight or obese," Jiang said.