Overweight trends in Dutch adolescents
The aim of this study was to compare adiposity measures of 12- to 14-year-old Dutch adolescents attending lower levels of education in 2011 with adolescents measured in 2003.
We used baseline data from two trials evaluating a school-based obesity prevention programme in 2003 (randomized controlled trial with 18 schools) and in 2011 (cluster controlled trial with 29 schools). We measured adolescents’ body height and weight, skinfold thickness, and waist circumference in 2003 (n = 1000; response rate 76%) and 2011 (n = 1898; response rate 86%). We used multivariable multi-level linear or logistic regression analyses stratifying for gender, ethnicity and prevocational education track (vocational or theoretical) where appropriate.
In boys, prevalence of overweight, waist circumference, triceps, biceps and subscapular skinfolds were significantly higher in 2011. This was also true for vocational girls, except for the subscapular skinfold. Girls, attending the theoretical track, had a significantly larger waist circumference, but thinner subscapular and suprailiac skinfold thickness in 2011.
The increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in Dutch adolescents attending prevocational education is worrisome.