Trends of obesity and overweight among children and adolescents in China
Background
Recent decades have shown a rapid increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Chinese children based on several national surveys. Restrictions due to the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak have worsened its epidemiology. This review updates the trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Chinese children and adolescents and analyzes the underlying reasons to provide evidence for better policy making.
Methods
Studies published in English and Chinese were retrieved from PubMed, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang.
Results
The prevalence of overweight and obesity has been increasing for decades and varies with age, sex and geography but is more pronounced in primary school students. The increase in obesity in boys appeared to be slower, whereas that in girls showed a declining trend. The northern areas of China have persistently maintained the highest levels of obesity with a stable trend in recent years. Meanwhile, the prevalence in eastern regions has dramatically increased. Notably, the overall prevalence of obesity in children has shown a stabilizing trend in recent years. However, the occurrence of obesity-related metabolic diseases increased. The effect of migrants floating into east-coast cities should not be neglected.
Conclusions
The high prevalence of overweight and obesity among Chinese children and adolescents persists but with varying patterns. Obesity-related metabolic diseases occur more frequently despite a stable trend of obesity. Multiple factors are responsible for the changing prevalence. Thus, comprehensive and flexible policies are needed to effectively manage and prevent the burden of obesity and its related complications.
Top-30
Journals
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Frontiers in Pediatrics
3 publications, 5.36%
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BMC Public Health
3 publications, 5.36%
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Frontiers in Public Health
3 publications, 5.36%
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Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
2 publications, 3.57%
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Nutrients
2 publications, 3.57%
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Children
2 publications, 3.57%
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Frontiers in Nutrition
2 publications, 3.57%
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Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy
2 publications, 3.57%
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Hepatology International
1 publication, 1.79%
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World Journal of Pediatrics
1 publication, 1.79%
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European Respiratory Review
1 publication, 1.79%
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Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
1 publication, 1.79%
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JAMA Pediatrics
1 publication, 1.79%
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Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports
1 publication, 1.79%
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Journal of the American Heart Association
1 publication, 1.79%
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International Journal of Molecular Sciences
1 publication, 1.79%
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Endocrine
1 publication, 1.79%
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Ateroscleroz
1 publication, 1.79%
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Nutrition and Diabetes
1 publication, 1.79%
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Pediatric Research
1 publication, 1.79%
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Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research
1 publication, 1.79%
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Journal of Food Science
1 publication, 1.79%
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Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
1 publication, 1.79%
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Scientia Sinica Vitae
1 publication, 1.79%
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Chinese Science Bulletin (Chinese Version)
1 publication, 1.79%
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International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
1 publication, 1.79%
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Healthcare
1 publication, 1.79%
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BMC Pediatrics
1 publication, 1.79%
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Annals of Medicine and Surgery
1 publication, 1.79%
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PeerJ
1 publication, 1.79%
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1
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3
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Publishers
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Springer Nature
15 publications, 26.79%
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Frontiers Media S.A.
10 publications, 17.86%
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MDPI
7 publications, 12.5%
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Wiley
5 publications, 8.93%
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Elsevier
4 publications, 7.14%
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Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
2 publications, 3.57%
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Taylor & Francis
2 publications, 3.57%
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Science in China Press
2 publications, 3.57%
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European Respiratory Society (ERS)
1 publication, 1.79%
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American Medical Association (AMA)
1 publication, 1.79%
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The Institute of Internal and Preventive Medicine
1 publication, 1.79%
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PeerJ
1 publication, 1.79%
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F1000 Research
1 publication, 1.79%
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Apex Publishing
1 publication, 1.79%
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Ural State Medical University
1 publication, 1.79%
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Walter de Gruyter
1 publication, 1.79%
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Japan Epidemiological Association
1 publication, 1.79%
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- We do not take into account publications without a DOI.
- Statistics recalculated weekly.