RT Journal
A1 Ogden CL, Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Johnson CL
T1 PRevalence and trends in overweight among us children and adolescents, 1999-2000
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2002
FD October 9
VO 288
IS 14
SP 1728
OP 1732
DO 10.1001/jama.288.14.1728
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.14.1728
AB Context 
                  The prevalence of overweight among children in the United States increased
between 1976-1980 and 1988-1994, but estimates for the current decade are
unknown.Objective 
                  To determine the prevalence of overweight in US children using the most
recent national data with measured weights and heights and to examine trends
in overweight prevalence.Design, Setting, and Participants 
                  Survey of 4722 children from birth through 19 years of age with weight
and height measurements obtained in 1999-2000 as part of the National Health
and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a cross-sectional, stratified,
multistage probability sample of the US population.Main Outcome Measure 
                  Prevalence of overweight among US children by sex, age group, and race/ethnicity.
Overweight among those aged 2 through 19 years was defined as at or above
the 95th percentile of the sex-specific body mass index (BMI) for age growth
charts.Results 
                  The prevalence of overweight was 15.5% among 12- through 19-year-olds,
15.3% among 6- through 11-year-olds, and 10.4% among 2- through 5-year-olds,
compared with 10.5%, 11.3%, and 7.2%, respectively, in 1988-1994 (NHANES III).
The prevalence of overweight among non-Hispanic black and Mexican-American
adolescents increased more than 10 percentage points between 1988-1994 and
1999-2000.Conclusion 
                  The prevalence of overweight among children in the United States is
continuing to increase, especially among Mexican-American and non-Hispanic
black adolescents.