Does obesity persist from childhood to adolescence? A 4-year prospective cohort study of chinese students in Hong Kong

Joanna Yuet Ling  Tung; Frederick Ka Wing  Ho; Keith Tsz Suen  Tung; Rosa Sze Man  Wong; Wilfred Hing Sang  Wong; Bik Chu  Chow; Patrick Ip

doi:10.1186/s12887-021-02504-7

Does obesity persist from childhood to adolescence? A 4-year prospective cohort study of chinese students in Hong Kong

Joanna Yuet Ling Tung, Frederick Ka Wing Ho, Keith Tsz Suen Tung, Rosa Sze Man Wong, Wilfred Hing Sang Wong, Bik Chu Chow, Patrick Ip^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the progression of obesity from childhood to adolescence. This study aimed to longitudinally examine the obesity status in a cohort of children across their childhood and adolescence, and to identify the factors associated with persistent obesity.

Methods: The study used data from School Physical Fitness Award Scheme (SPFAS), a population-based programme in Hong Kong primary and secondary schools. Students were included if they participated in the SPFAS in both 2014 (Primary 1 and 2) and 2018 (Primary 5 and 6). Their anthropometric and physical fitness parameters were analyzed.

Results: A total of 18,863 students were included. The baseline prevalence of obesity was 5.7 %. After 4 years, the prevalence increased to 6.7 %. Among those with obesity at baseline, 35.3 % remained obese after 4 years. The addition of baseline physical fitness level did not improve the prediction for persistent obesity.

Conclusions: One-third of obese students in junior primary school remained to be obese into adolescence. Their baseline physical fitness level did not improve the predictive value for future obesity. Further studies should investigate the prognostic factors that may influence the natural course of childhood obesity.

Original language	English
Article number	60
Journal	BMC Pediatrics
Volume	21
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-021-02504-7
Publication status	Published - Dec 2021

User-Defined Keywords

Childhood
Chinese
Obesity
Obesity consistency
Weight trajectory

UN SDGs

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10.1186/s12887-021-02504-7

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title = "Does obesity persist from childhood to adolescence? A 4-year prospective cohort study of chinese students in Hong Kong",

abstract = "Background: Little is known about the progression of obesity from childhood to adolescence. This study aimed to longitudinally examine the obesity status in a cohort of children across their childhood and adolescence, and to identify the factors associated with persistent obesity. Methods: The study used data from School Physical Fitness Award Scheme (SPFAS), a population-based programme in Hong Kong primary and secondary schools. Students were included if they participated in the SPFAS in both 2014 (Primary 1 and 2) and 2018 (Primary 5 and 6). Their anthropometric and physical fitness parameters were analyzed. Results: A total of 18,863 students were included. The baseline prevalence of obesity was 5.7 %. After 4 years, the prevalence increased to 6.7 %. Among those with obesity at baseline, 35.3 % remained obese after 4 years. The addition of baseline physical fitness level did not improve the prediction for persistent obesity. Conclusions: One-third of obese students in junior primary school remained to be obese into adolescence. Their baseline physical fitness level did not improve the predictive value for future obesity. Further studies should investigate the prognostic factors that may influence the natural course of childhood obesity.",

keywords = "Childhood, Chinese, Obesity, Obesity consistency, Weight trajectory",

author = "Tung, {Joanna Yuet Ling} and Ho, {Frederick Ka Wing} and Tung, {Keith Tsz Suen} and Wong, {Rosa Sze Man} and Wong, {Wilfred Hing Sang} and Chow, {Bik Chu} and Patrick Ip",

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doi = "10.1186/s12887-021-02504-7",

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AU - Tung, Joanna Yuet Ling

AU - Ho, Frederick Ka Wing

AU - Tung, Keith Tsz Suen

AU - Wong, Rosa Sze Man

AU - Wong, Wilfred Hing Sang

AU - Chow, Bik Chu

AU - Ip, Patrick

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s). 2021

PY - 2021/12

Y1 - 2021/12

N2 - Background: Little is known about the progression of obesity from childhood to adolescence. This study aimed to longitudinally examine the obesity status in a cohort of children across their childhood and adolescence, and to identify the factors associated with persistent obesity. Methods: The study used data from School Physical Fitness Award Scheme (SPFAS), a population-based programme in Hong Kong primary and secondary schools. Students were included if they participated in the SPFAS in both 2014 (Primary 1 and 2) and 2018 (Primary 5 and 6). Their anthropometric and physical fitness parameters were analyzed. Results: A total of 18,863 students were included. The baseline prevalence of obesity was 5.7 %. After 4 years, the prevalence increased to 6.7 %. Among those with obesity at baseline, 35.3 % remained obese after 4 years. The addition of baseline physical fitness level did not improve the prediction for persistent obesity. Conclusions: One-third of obese students in junior primary school remained to be obese into adolescence. Their baseline physical fitness level did not improve the predictive value for future obesity. Further studies should investigate the prognostic factors that may influence the natural course of childhood obesity.

AB - Background: Little is known about the progression of obesity from childhood to adolescence. This study aimed to longitudinally examine the obesity status in a cohort of children across their childhood and adolescence, and to identify the factors associated with persistent obesity. Methods: The study used data from School Physical Fitness Award Scheme (SPFAS), a population-based programme in Hong Kong primary and secondary schools. Students were included if they participated in the SPFAS in both 2014 (Primary 1 and 2) and 2018 (Primary 5 and 6). Their anthropometric and physical fitness parameters were analyzed. Results: A total of 18,863 students were included. The baseline prevalence of obesity was 5.7 %. After 4 years, the prevalence increased to 6.7 %. Among those with obesity at baseline, 35.3 % remained obese after 4 years. The addition of baseline physical fitness level did not improve the prediction for persistent obesity. Conclusions: One-third of obese students in junior primary school remained to be obese into adolescence. Their baseline physical fitness level did not improve the predictive value for future obesity. Further studies should investigate the prognostic factors that may influence the natural course of childhood obesity.

KW - Childhood

KW - Chinese

KW - Obesity

KW - Obesity consistency

KW - Weight trajectory

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DO - 10.1186/s12887-021-02504-7

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ER -

Does obesity persist from childhood to adolescence? A 4-year prospective cohort study of chinese students in Hong Kong

Abstract

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