Change in reference body mass index percentiles and deviation in overweight and obesity over 3 years in Turkish children and adolescents

BACKGROUND: This aim of this study was to update information on body mass index (BMI) references and prevalence of overweight and obesity in Turkey, and to compare our data with previous local and international data. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Turkish school-age children living in Kayseri, Turkey in 2008. BMI references were calculated and the prevalence of overweight and obesity was determined. Growth curves were produced and compared with concomitant (4 years ago) local and international data. RESULTS: A total of 4241 children (2339 girls and 1902 boys) aged 6-18 years were included. The 5th and 50th percentiles of boys in the current study were approximately 0.8-1.2 units lower than those reported previously. The 95th percentile in our study was higher than those found in previous studies. The prevalence of obesity and overweight was found to be higher in the current study when compared with a previous study (3.9%-4.5% and 15.4%-18.0%, respectively). In the current study, obesity was found to be increased in boys (4.8%-5.4%) but decreased in girls (4.8%-3.5%) when compared with a previous study. We found that our BMI references were significantly higher until 15-16 years of age for the 85th and 95th percentiles compared with World Health Organization standards. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides information on updated BMI references and the prevalence of overweight and obesity. The prevalence of overweight and obesity should be screened in short periods. In the evaluation of overweight and obesity, international standards and local references should be evaluated together.