Secular trend and projection of overweight and obesity among Chinese children and adolescents aged 7–18 years from 1985 to 2019: Rural areas are becoming the focus of investment
Abstract. Background:. The urban–rural disparities in overweight and obesity among children and adolescents are narrowing, and there is a need for long-term and updated data to explain this inequality, understand the underlying mechanisms, and identify priority groups for interventions. Methods:. W...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Chinese Medical Journal |
| Online Access: | http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/CM9.0000000000003123 |
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| author | Jiajia Dang Yunfei Liu Shan Cai Panliang Zhong Di Shi Ziyue Chen Yihang Zhang Yanhui Dong Jun Ma Yi Song Jing Ni Xuehong Zhang |
| author_facet | Jiajia Dang Yunfei Liu Shan Cai Panliang Zhong Di Shi Ziyue Chen Yihang Zhang Yanhui Dong Jun Ma Yi Song Jing Ni Xuehong Zhang |
| author_sort | Jiajia Dang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract.
Background:. The urban–rural disparities in overweight and obesity among children and adolescents are narrowing, and there is a need for long-term and updated data to explain this inequality, understand the underlying mechanisms, and identify priority groups for interventions.
Methods:. We analyzed data from seven rounds of the Chinese National Survey on Students Constitution and Health (CNSSCH) conducted from 1985 to 2019, focusing on school-age children and adolescents aged 7–18 years. Joinpoint regression was used to identify inflection points (indicating a change in the trend) in the prevalence of overweight and obesity during the study period, stratified by urban/rural areas and sex. Annual percent change (APC), average annual percent change (AAPC), and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to describe changes in the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Polynomial regression models were used to predict the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in 2025 and 2030, considering urban/rural areas, sex, and age groups.
Results:. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in urban boys and girls showed an inflection point of 2000, with AAPC values of 10.09% (95% CI: 7.33–12.92%, t = 7.414, P <0.001) and 8.67% (95% CI: 6.10–11.30%, t = 6.809, P <0.001), respectively. The APC for urban boys decreased from 18.31% (95% CI: 4.72–33.67%, t = 5.926, P = 0.027) to 4.01% (95% CI: 1.33–6.75%, t = 6.486, P = 0.023), while the APC for urban girls decreased from 13.88% (95% CI: 1.82–27.38%, t = 4.994, P = 0.038) to 4.72% (95% CI: 1.43–8.12%, t = 6.215, P = 0.025). However, no inflection points were observed in the best-fit models for rural boys and girls during the period 1985–2019. The prevalence of overweight and obesity for both urban and rural boys is expected to converge at 35.76% by approximately 2027. A similar pattern is observed for urban and rural girls, with a prevalence of overweight and obesity reaching 20.86% in 2025.
Conclusions:. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Chinese children and adolescents has been steadily increasing from 1985 to 2019. A complete reversal in urban–rural prevalence is expected by 2027, with a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in rural areas. Urgent action is needed to address health inequities and increase investments, particularly policies targeting rural children and adolescents. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-900e4b5923184a2db24972b793e1319d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0366-6999 2542-5641 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Chinese Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-900e4b5923184a2db24972b793e1319d2025-01-27T06:04:15ZengWolters KluwerChinese Medical Journal0366-69992542-56412025-02-01138331131710.1097/CM9.0000000000003123202502050-00009Secular trend and projection of overweight and obesity among Chinese children and adolescents aged 7–18 years from 1985 to 2019: Rural areas are becoming the focus of investmentJiajia Dang0Yunfei Liu1Shan Cai2Panliang Zhong3Di Shi4Ziyue Chen5Yihang Zhang6Yanhui Dong7Jun Ma8Yi Song9Jing NiXuehong Zhang1 Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China1 Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China1 Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China1 Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China1 Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China1 Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China1 Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China1 Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China1 Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China1 Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, ChinaAbstract. Background:. The urban–rural disparities in overweight and obesity among children and adolescents are narrowing, and there is a need for long-term and updated data to explain this inequality, understand the underlying mechanisms, and identify priority groups for interventions. Methods:. We analyzed data from seven rounds of the Chinese National Survey on Students Constitution and Health (CNSSCH) conducted from 1985 to 2019, focusing on school-age children and adolescents aged 7–18 years. Joinpoint regression was used to identify inflection points (indicating a change in the trend) in the prevalence of overweight and obesity during the study period, stratified by urban/rural areas and sex. Annual percent change (APC), average annual percent change (AAPC), and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to describe changes in the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Polynomial regression models were used to predict the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in 2025 and 2030, considering urban/rural areas, sex, and age groups. Results:. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in urban boys and girls showed an inflection point of 2000, with AAPC values of 10.09% (95% CI: 7.33–12.92%, t = 7.414, P <0.001) and 8.67% (95% CI: 6.10–11.30%, t = 6.809, P <0.001), respectively. The APC for urban boys decreased from 18.31% (95% CI: 4.72–33.67%, t = 5.926, P = 0.027) to 4.01% (95% CI: 1.33–6.75%, t = 6.486, P = 0.023), while the APC for urban girls decreased from 13.88% (95% CI: 1.82–27.38%, t = 4.994, P = 0.038) to 4.72% (95% CI: 1.43–8.12%, t = 6.215, P = 0.025). However, no inflection points were observed in the best-fit models for rural boys and girls during the period 1985–2019. The prevalence of overweight and obesity for both urban and rural boys is expected to converge at 35.76% by approximately 2027. A similar pattern is observed for urban and rural girls, with a prevalence of overweight and obesity reaching 20.86% in 2025. Conclusions:. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Chinese children and adolescents has been steadily increasing from 1985 to 2019. A complete reversal in urban–rural prevalence is expected by 2027, with a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in rural areas. Urgent action is needed to address health inequities and increase investments, particularly policies targeting rural children and adolescents.http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/CM9.0000000000003123 |
| spellingShingle | Jiajia Dang Yunfei Liu Shan Cai Panliang Zhong Di Shi Ziyue Chen Yihang Zhang Yanhui Dong Jun Ma Yi Song Jing Ni Xuehong Zhang Secular trend and projection of overweight and obesity among Chinese children and adolescents aged 7–18 years from 1985 to 2019: Rural areas are becoming the focus of investment Chinese Medical Journal |
| title | Secular trend and projection of overweight and obesity among Chinese children and adolescents aged 7–18 years from 1985 to 2019: Rural areas are becoming the focus of investment |
| title_full | Secular trend and projection of overweight and obesity among Chinese children and adolescents aged 7–18 years from 1985 to 2019: Rural areas are becoming the focus of investment |
| title_fullStr | Secular trend and projection of overweight and obesity among Chinese children and adolescents aged 7–18 years from 1985 to 2019: Rural areas are becoming the focus of investment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Secular trend and projection of overweight and obesity among Chinese children and adolescents aged 7–18 years from 1985 to 2019: Rural areas are becoming the focus of investment |
| title_short | Secular trend and projection of overweight and obesity among Chinese children and adolescents aged 7–18 years from 1985 to 2019: Rural areas are becoming the focus of investment |
| title_sort | secular trend and projection of overweight and obesity among chinese children and adolescents aged 7 18 years from 1985 to 2019 rural areas are becoming the focus of investment |
| url | http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/CM9.0000000000003123 |
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