SECULAR INCREASES IN RELATIVE WEIGHT AND ADIPOSITY AMONG CHILDREN OVER 2 DECADES - THE BOGALUSA HEART-STUDY

Objective. To examine trends in relative weight and obesity among 5- t o 24-year-olds between 1973 and 1994. Design. A panel design consistin g of seven cross-sectional surveys of schoolchildren and three surveys of post-high-school subjects. Anthropometric measurements included he ight, weight, and subscapular and triceps skinfolds. Study Population. All schoolchildren residing in Ward 4 of Washington Parish, Louisiana biracial community, were considered eligible; participation rates wer e >80%. Young adults were eligible if they had participated previously as schoolchildren. A total of 26 371 examinations were performed on 1 1 564 persons. Results. During the study period, substantial increases in mean levels of weight (0.2 kg/y) and skinfold thickness (0.15 mm/y ) were observed; these changes were independent of height, age, and ot her covariates. The prevalence of overweight, defined by the 85th perc entile of weight-for-height in 1973 to 1974 increased approximately tw ofold by 1994. Although secular increases were seen both among boys an d girls and among blacks and whites, the largest increases were seen a mong 19- to 24-year-olds. Furthermore, the yearly increases in relativ e weight and obesity during the latter part of the study period (1983 through 1994) were similar to 50% greater than those between 1973 and 1982. Conclusions. The increasing prevalence of obesity in early life indicates a need for primary prevention. Additional study is needed to determine whether these trends are continuing to accelerate and to ex amine possible explanations, such as diet and physical activity, for t hese changes.