• Sanja Musić Milanović, Maja Lang Morović, Dora Bukal, Helena Križan, Marta Buoncristiano, and João Breda.
• 1Health Promotion Division, Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia; 2Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; 3European Office for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, World Health Organization, Moscow, Russia.
• Acta Clin Croat. 2020 Jun 1; 59 (2): 303-311.

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and analyze the determinants of overweight and obesity among Croatian schoolchildren aged 7-9 years in relation to sociodemographic factors. This study used data that were gathered as part of the WHO Europe Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative in 2015/2016. The sample for the study was nationally representative. Anthropometric measurements of 5591 children, 2811 boys and 2780 girls, were collected during 8 weeks using standardized equipment. Studied variables included child's anthropometric measurements and demographics, maternal education and employment status. The results showed a 35.9% prevalence of overweight and obesity in Croatian 7-9-year-old children. Overweight and obesity were more frequent in boys in comparison to girls, especially among boys from the Adriatic region (42.1%). The risk of overweight and obesity was increased in boys living in the Adriatic region (ORadj=1.33; 95% CI 1.03-1.71) and in girls with high-school educated mothers (ORadj=1.36; 95% CI 1.11-1.66). Girls with unemployed mothers had a lower risk of overweight and obesity (ORadj=0.73; 95% CI 0.58-0.92). The observed prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity warrants national and local time-bound targets for reduction of childhood obesity, accompanied by detailed action plans and monitoring mechanisms.

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