ChecKid Study
Objectives
Overweight is considered as one of the largest public health problems. This is worrisome because especially obesity in children is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, diabetes mellitus type 2 and psychosocial problems. In addition overweight in childhood predicts overweight in adulthood. Moreover, adults who were obese children have an increased risk on morbidity and mortality independent of their adult weight. Therefore early prevention starting at a young age is very important. Also there is an urgent need for evidence based obesity prevention.
In recent years it has become evident that effective management of overweight and obesity should be a part of local integral health policy (Friedrich, 2007). The Zwolle city council wants work in an integral and durable way on the prevention of overweight in 0-19 year-olds. Allready in 2005, during the implementation of the Big City policy (Grootstedenbeleid), the executive board decided that health care policy is a shared responsibility. This decision has been implemented in local policy to enhance a healthy living standard and environment, within broader aspirations of the city such as social cohesion, quality of life, differentiation and spatial quality.
This integral approach is based on five pillars: a sound political basis, the installation of a local projectmanager, cooperation between the public and private sector, social marketing and research concerning effectiveness. For purpose of this last goal and to monitor trends in life style and overweight, but also to identify high-risk groups, and to offer tailor-made prevention plans from different settings, the ChecKid study has been set up.
Moreover, socio-demographic, lifestyle and environmental factors associated with overweight and obesity will be studied. The resulting data can directly be related to BMI and waist circumference because weight, height and waist circumference are measured in all children. The clustering of (un)healthy behaviours and the relationship between individual behaviour, the physical and social environment will be explored to implement interventions efficiently.
The ChecKid study has a longitudinal design, in which primary school children will be followed, with measurements every three years. In 2006 the first wave of data collection has been completed during which nearly all the primary schools in Zwolle participated. The second wave is planned for autumn 2009.
Collaborations
Partners in this project are the Zwolle city council, the local health services , the research centre prevention overweight Zwolle and several welfare organisations in the city.
Results
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Age in years, mean (SD)
|
n=4,072
|
8.1(2.3)
|
Gender
|
n=4,072
|
|
% boys
|
49.2
|
|
% girls
|
50.8
|
|
Socio-economic status
|
n=3,859
|
|
Low (%)
|
8.7
|
|
Medium (%)
|
34.5
|
|
High (%)
|
56.9
|
|
Ethnicity
|
n=4,040
|
|
Dutch (%)
|
87.3
|
|
Mixed Dutch and foreign (%)
|
7.3
|
|
Foreign (%)
|
5.4
|
|
Weight status
|
n=4,072
|
|
Underweight (%)
|
8.2
|
|
Healthy weight (%)
|
80.1
|
|
Overweight (%)
|
9.9
|
|
Obesity (%)
|
1.8
|
Schokker, D.F, de Jong E, Visscher, T.L.S, Seidell, J.C., Bleeker, S.A. , Renders, C.M. The role of the neighbourhood in the prevalence of obesity, nutrition and physical activity behaviour in children in a Dutch city: targeting a community intervention. Submitted
Contact information
Dr C.M. Renders, cm.renders@vumc.nl 020-4441706
website