Epidemiology of obesity in children and adolescents (systematic review and meta-analysis of publications over a 15-year period)

Authors / Institutions

Vera L. Gritsinskaya / V.A.Almazov Federal Medical Research Centre, St.Petersburg, Russian Federation

Valeriya P. Novikova / St.Petersburg State Paediatric Medical University, St.Petersburg, Russian Federation / V.A.Almazov Federal Medical Research Centre, St.Petersburg, Russian Federation

Anatoliy I. Khavkin / Research Clinical Institute of Childhood, Ministry of Health of the Moscow Region, Moscow, Russian Federation / Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, the Russian Federation

The epidemic of obesity affected most of the countries by the beginning of the 21st century. However, the data on the prevalence of obesity among children in Russia are insufficient and were obtained using different methods.
Objective. To assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children from Russia and neighboring countries using metaanalysis.
Materials and methods. We analyzed 56 publications that involved 355,905 children and adolescents aged 1–19 years from Russia and neighboring countries in accordance with the Child Growth Standards, 2006 and WHO Growth Reference 2007. Data analysis was performed using the MS Excel and MedCalc software. We calculated proportions with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and odds ratios (ORs); differences were considered significant at р < 0.05.
Results. More than a quarter of study participants (25.3%) were overweight or obese. Children under 7 years of age were less likely to be overweight/obese than those aged 8–19 years (р < 0.001); boys were more prone to overweight/obesity than girls (р < 0.001). Overweight was observed in 18.8% of children and was more common in boys than in girls (р < 0.001). Obesity was more prevalent among children aged >7 years than among young children (р < 0.001); it was more frequently observed in boys than in girls (р < 0.001). The prevalence of overweight varied between 3.9% and 29.1% in different groups of children depending on their age, sex, and living conditions. The prevalence of obesity varied between 1.2% and 25.3%.
Conclusion. The trend in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Russian children and adolescents is consistent with the global epidemiological situation and requires more effective preventive measures.
Key words: obesity, overweight, prevalence, children, adolescents, Russia
For citation: Gritsinskaya V.L., Novikova V.P., Khavkin A.I. Epidemiology of obesity in children and adolescents (systematic review and meta-analysis of publications over a 15-year period). Vopr. prakt. pediatr. (Clinical Practice in Pediatrics). 2022; 17(2): 126–135. (In Russian). DOI: 10.20953/1817-7646-2022-2-126-135