Prevention of child obesity as a measure of preventing malignant diseases

• Main Authors: Mirilov Jelena M., Bjelica Artur L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Oncology, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia 2004-01-01
• Series: Archive of Oncology
• Subjects: obesity; risk factors; neoplasms; child; adolescence
• Online Access: http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0354-7310/2004/0354-73100404213M.pdf

Numerous investigations documented that there is a significant correlation between obesity and the onset of malignant neoplasms. It has been known for decades that Vojvodina is an area characterized by frequent occurrence of obesity with adult population, which starts much earlier in childhood. Good knowledge of incidence in child obesity is a first step in the prevention of malignant diseases. The study encompassed the anthropometric measurements (body height and body weight) of 3298 boys and 3146 girls aged from 6 to 15 years, from 10 primary schools of the wider area of the city of Novi Sad. The measurement data served as the basis to calculate the body mass index (BMI). On the basis of BMI the incidence of the overall obesity (³P85) among the examined boys on the territory of Novi Sad community was found to be 16.59%. Overweight (P85 - P95) was observed in 10.28%, and obesity (³P95) in 6.31% boys. The analysis of the nutrition status among the examined schoolgirls on the territory of Novi Sad community, on the basis of BMI, showed that overall obesity (³P85) was present in 14.69% of schoolgirls; overweight (P85 - P95) was found in 9.38%, and obesity (³P95) in 5.31% of the examined schoolgirls. The high percentage of obese schoolchildren cannot be considered as desirable, especially if it is taken into account that there has been a significant increase compared with the previous examination.