Original article Prevalence of Child and Youth Obesity in Spain in 2012 Jose ´ -Juan Sa ´ nchez-Cruz, a, * Jose ´ J. Jime ´ nez-Moleo ´ n, b,c Fidel Ferna ´ ndez-Quesada, d and Marı ´a J. Sa ´ nchez a,c a Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pu ´blica, Granada, Spain b Departamento Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pu ´blica, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain c CIBER de Epidemiologı´a y Salud Pu ´blica (CIBERESP), Spain d Servicio de Angiologı´a y Cirugı´a Vascular, Hospital Universitario San Cecilio, Granada, Spain INTRODUCTION Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality and hospitalization in Spain and is a major contributor to health costs. Each year, this entity causes approximately 120 000 deaths and led to 5 million hospital stays in 2006 alone. 1–3 At present, the fight against cardiovascular disease focuses particularly on the development of secondary and tertiary prevention measures. However, to date, efforts to address modifiable risk factors present in individuals over a long period, sometimes since childhood (e.g., obesity) have not been a priority. Obesity is an enormous medical and public health issue. 4 Numerous studies have shown a strong relationship between obesity and cardiovascular disease. 5–13 The association between obesity and cardiovascular disease concerns both adult obesity and obesity at earlier ages. 13,14 In childhood and adolescence, excess weight is directly associated with elevated plasma insulin, lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, Rev Esp Cardiol. 2013;66(5):371–376 Article history: Received 30 July 2012 Accepted 2 October 2012 Available online 1 February 2013 Keywords: Cardiovascular disease Obesity Children Youth Risk factors A B S T R A C T Introduction and objectives: Obesity is a major cardiovascular risk factor. In Spain, few studies have physically measured height and weight to estimate the magnitude of the problem. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of child and adolescent obesity in Spain in 2012. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional probability sample of 1018 children, representative of the Spanish population aged between 8 and 17 years old, with objectively measured height and weight, along with other sociodemographic variables. We calculated the prevalence of overweight and obesity according to the criteria of the World Health Organization, the International Obesity Task Force, and the enKid study. Results: In the group aged 8 to 17 years old, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 26% and 12.6%, respectively; 4 in 10 young people were overweight or obese. Excess weight was found in 45% of the group aged 8 to 13 years and in 25.5% of that aged 14 to 17 years. This cardiovascular risk factor was associated with lower social class and lower educational level. Conclusions: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents in Spain remains high (close to 40%), but has not increased in the last 12 years. ß 2012 Sociedad Espan ˜ola de Cardiologı ´a. Published by Elsevier Espan ˜a, S.L. All rights reserved. Prevalencia de obesidad infantil y juvenil en Espan ˜a en 2012 Palabras clave: Enfermedades cardiovasculares Obesidad Nin ˜os Jo ´ venes Factores de riesgo R E S U M E N Introduccio ´n y objetivos: La obesidad es un importante factor de riesgo cardiovascular. En Espan ˜a son pocos los estudios que hayan realizado una medicio ´n fı ´sica del peso y la estatura para estimar la magnitud del problema. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar la prevalencia de obesidad infantil y juvenil en Espan ˜a en 2012. Me ´todos: Estudio transversal sobre una muestra probabilı ´stica, representativa de la poblacio ´n espan ˜ ola, de 978 nin ˜os entre los 8 y los 17 an ˜ os. Se midio ´ objetivamente el peso y la estatura del menor, junto con otras variables sociodemogra ´ ficas. Se calcularon las prevalencias de sobrepeso y obesidad siguiendo criterios de la Organizacio ´n Mundial de la Salud, la International Obesity Task Force y el estudio espan ˜ol enKid. Resultados: En el grupo de edad de 8 a 17 an ˜ os, en 2012 la prevalencia de sobrepeso es del 26% y la de obesidad, del 12,6%; 4 de cada 10 jo ´ venes sufren exceso de peso. En el grupo comprendido entre los 8 y los 13 an ˜os, el exceso de peso supera el 45%, mientras que para el grupo de 14 a 17 an ˜ os, el exceso de peso es del 25,5%. Este factor de riesgo cardiovascular aparece asociado a las clases sociales ma ´s desfavorecidas y con menos estudios. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad infantil y juvenil en Espan ˜a sigue siendo muy alta (cercana al 40%), pero no ha crecido en los u ´ ltimos 12 an ˜os. ß 2012 Sociedad Espan ˜ola de Cardiologı ´a. Publicado por Elsevier Espan ˜a, S.L. Todos los derechos reservados. * Corresponding author: Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pu ´ blica, Cuesta del Observatorio 4, 18080 Granada, Spain. E-mail address: josejuan.sanchez.easp@juntadeandalucia.es (J.-J. Sa ´nchez-Cruz). 1885-5857/$ – see front matter ß 2012 Sociedad Espan ˜ola de Cardiologı ´a. Published by Elsevier Espan ˜a, S.L. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rec.2012.10.012 Document downloaded from https://www.revespcardiol.org/, day 29/11/2021. This copy is for personal use. Any transmission of this document by any media or format is strictly prohibited. Document downloaded from https://www.revespcardiol.org/, day 29/11/2021. This copy is for personal use. Any transmission of this document by any media or format is strictly prohibited.