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Growth in Sweden : surveillance of growth patterns and epidemiological monitoring of secular changes in height and weight among children and adolescents

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posted on 2024-09-02, 23:26 authored by Bo Werner

This thesis investigates the growth patterns of infants, children and adolescents in all of Sweden and the secular change for height and weight for schoolchildren. This thesis is based on the study of two cohorts: First, schoolchildren born 1973 from age 7 y to 18 y, and second children born in 1981 from birth to age 19 y. Cohort 1973 was all children born on the 15th of any month in 1973, 3 579 boys and girls. Longitudinal data were collected from school health records. Missing cases were 4.5%. Cohort 1981 was all children born on the 15th of any month of 1981, 3 158 boys and girls. Longitudinal data were collected from child health records and school health records. Missing cases were 1.6%.

Longitudinal data for somatic growth, cohort 1973 from 7 y to 18 y (height and weight), cohort 1981 from birth to 19 y (height and weight), from birth to age 48 mo (head circumference) from two nationally representative sample of children in Sweden, collected from child health records and school health records, can be used for epidemiological monitoring of growth with fewer missing individuals and at lower costs compared with other dedicated studies. Data quality is comparable to similar national surveys.

These studies represent, without selection bias, the current growth situation among children and adolescents, enabling both epidemiological comparisons over time and comparisons with other national surveys.

For the first time in Sweden, and without selection bias, means and distribution of head circumference measurements are documented longitudinally for a nationally representative sample of infants.

The time trend analyses revealed: An increased rate for those born in 1981 compared with those born in 1973 of relative weight reduction episodes was found for both boys and girls. The increase for girls were most pronounced, started from a higher rate and was seen in nearly all body weight categories and in all ages. For boys the reductions increased for all body weight categories in the age interval 7 9 y; otherwise the pattern was much more heterogeneous. Body weight and reduction of BMI were highly correlated in both cohorts, as more of the overweight than the thinner children reduced their BMI. For girls the increase in reduction rate between 1981-born and 1973-born was highest among the thinnest individuals.

From age 7 y to 18 y a strong positive secular change for BMI exists in all ages, and the rate of overweight and obesity is increasing for both boys and girls. Furthermore, obesity was growing more severe.

List of scientific papers

I. Werner B, Bodin L, Bremberg S (2006). "Data on height and weight from school health records as a national public health surveillance tool: the case of Sweden." Scand J Public Health 34(4): 406-13
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16861191

II. Werner B, Bodin L (2006). "Growth from birth to age 19 for children in Sweden born in 1981: descriptive values." Acta Paediatr 95(5): 600-13
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16825142

III. Werner B, Bodin L (2006). "Head circumference from birth to age 48 months for infants in Sweden." Acta Paediatr 95(12): 1601-7
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17129969

IV. Werner B, Magnuson A, Bodin L (2007). "Increasing rate of weight loss among schoolchildren, especially girls, in Sweden." J Adolesc Health 40(3): 238-44. Epub 2006 Dec 14
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17321424

V. Werner B, Bodin L (2007). "Obesity in Swedish schoolchildren is increasing in both prevalence and severity." (Submitted)

History

Defence date

2007-05-16

Department

  • Department of Global Public Health

Publication year

2007

Thesis type

  • Doctoral thesis

ISBN

978-91-7357-148-7

Number of supporting papers

5

Language

  • eng

Original publication date

2007-04-25

Author name in thesis

Werner, Bo

Original department name

Department of Public Health Sciences

Place of publication

Stockholm

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