2019 年 15 巻 p. 54-68
Background: It has been reported that there is a pattern of onset of overweight and underweight in children and students. The prevalence of overweight children and students in Aomori Prefecture is higher than the national average for all grades, but a large-scale longitudinal analysis of overweight and underweight among children and students has not been conducted. Therefore, it has not been clarified whether there is a particular pattern in the onset of overweight or underweight. Thus, in Aomori Prefecture, large-scale longitudinal analysis on overweight and underweight of children and students is required. As the harmful effects of childhood obesity have become widely known and enlightenment activities have been carried out, overweight prevalence of children and students has been decreasing in recent years. Further reduction of overweight and underweight prevalence requires a high-risk approach, for which longitudinal data on overweight and underweight transitions is strongly required.
Objective: We aim to clarify whether there is a particular pattern in the prevalence of overweight and underweight children and students in Aomori Prefecture.
Methods: We constructed a pseudo-cohort using data from the Aomori Prefecture children and Student’s Health and Physical Fitness Survey Report from fiscal year (FY) 2007 to FY2018 (full survey) and the Annual Report of School Health Statistics Researches by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (sample survey). Classification of overweight and underweight was based on standard weight. We longitudinally compared the prevalence of overweight and underweight by gender and age between Japan and Aomori Prefecture for children born between FY2000 and FY2006, until FY2018. Furthermore, dividing Aomori Prefecture into six districts, we analyzed overweight and underweight prevalence of children and students born between FY2000 and FY2006 by age (6-17) and gender longitudinally.
Results: The prevalence of overweight children and students increased from age 6 in both boys and girls, reaching a maximum at age 9. This was one year earlier than the national average, and the same tendency was observed in each region. The prevalence of children with a tendency to be underweight was highest at age 11 and increased from age 6. Additionally, in some districts we found that both overweight and underweight prevalence increased.
Conclusion: The maximum prevalence age of overweight children and students in Aomori Prefecture was shown to be one year earlier than the national average and was similar by birth year and by district in this prefecture. This implies that intervention is needed earlier than usually thought.
