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Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Greek school-aged children and adolescents

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 57, pages 1189–1192 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

The aim of the present study, which was part of the Health Behavior in School Aged Children (HBSC) study, was to provide national estimates for overweight and obesity in Greek school-aged children and adolescents. A nationwide multistage procedure was followed to obtain a representative sample of children and adolescents aged 11.5, 13.5 and 15.5 y. The resultant sample consisted of 4299 students, 51.3% girls and 48.7% boys. Self-reported weight and height data were used. According to the body mass index cutoff points adopted by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), 9.1% of girls and 21.7% of boys were classified as overweight, and 1.2% of girls and 2.5% of boys as obese. Corresponding values using CDC growth charts were 8.1% of girls and 18.8% of boys for overweight, and 1.7% of girls and 5.8% of boys for obese. Compared to most other western countries, the prevalence of obesity is lower in Greek children aged 11–16 y.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece

    D Karayiannis, M Yannakoulia & L S Sidossis

  2. University Mental Health Research Institute, Athens, Greece

    M Terzidou & A Kokkevi

Authors
  1. D Karayiannis
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  2. M Yannakoulia
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  3. M Terzidou
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  4. L S Sidossis
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  5. A Kokkevi
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Contributions

Guarantor: LS Sidossis.

Contributors: DK carried out data handling and analysis, and drafted the paper. AK was the Principal Investigator and MT the scientific coordinator of the HBSC study; both of them contributed to the writing of the paper. MY and LSS assisted in data handling, interpretation of data and also contributed to the writing of the paper.

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Correspondence to L S Sidossis.

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Karayiannis, D., Yannakoulia, M., Terzidou, M. et al. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Greek school-aged children and adolescents. Eur J Clin Nutr 57, 1189–1192 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601743

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601743

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