Prevalence of overweight and childhood obesity in rural and urban environment of Cáceres and Salamanca

Abstract

Purpose: compare the prevalence of overweight and childhood obesity in the rural environment and in the urban environment. Design: cross-sectional study. Location: The study has been carried out in 4 locations. A rural setting and an urban setting of the province of Cáceres. A rural setting and an urban setting in the province of Salamanca. Primary care. Participants: a random sample of 334 subjects aged between 6 and 14 years,123 participants (36%) were from the rural environment and 211 (64%) from the urban environment. Key measurements: determination of overweight and childhood obesity based on BMI and fat percentage estimated through electrical bioimpedance. Results: the results of the study estimate that the overall sample of the study obtained a prevalence of overweight and obesity in children lower than those of other national studies. Regarding the BMI, an overweight of 15.01% and an obesity of 13.02% were estimated. Regarding to fat percentage, an overweight of 17.23% and an obesity of 17.69% were estimated. However, more specific results estimate a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in the rural environment than in the urban environment (Rural overweight: BMI, 15.93% / fat%, 19.88%) (Rural Obesity: BMI, 14.95 % /% fat: 20.31%) (Urban Overweight: BMI, 14.89% / fat%: 14.59%) (Urban Obesity: BMI, 11.26% / fat%, 15.07%). Conclusions: the prevalence of overweight and childhood obesity are higher in the rural environment than in the urban environment, whether estimated through BMI or through fat percentage.