An exploratory spatial analysis of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Shandong, China. Issue 8 (22nd August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qin, Wenzhe; Wang, Lu; Xu, Lingzhong; Sun, Long; Li, Jiajia; Zhang, Jiao; Shao, Hui
• Is Part Of: BMJ open. Volume 9:Issue 8(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-08-22
• Subjects: child and adolescent -- geographic location -- obesity -- overweight -- spatial analysis; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; 610.72
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028152
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2044-6055

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: Identifying the spatial patterns of childhood overweight/obesity (OW/OB) can help to guide resource allocation for preventive intervention in China. This study aims to estimate rates of childhood OW/OB across counties within Shandong Province, using geographic techniques to identify sex-specific spatial patterns of childhood OW/OB as well as the presence of spatial clusters. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Shandong Province in China. Participants and methods: Data on 6 216 076 children and adolescents aged 7–18 years from the Primary and Secondary Schoolchildren Physical Examination Database for Shandong Province were used in this study. Spatial patterns of sex-specific prevalence of childhood OW/OB were mapped. Global autocorrelation statistic (Moran's I ) and the Local Indicator of Spatial Association (LISA) were applied to assess the degree of spatial autocorrelation. Results: The overall prevalence of childhood OW/OB in Shandong province were 15.05% and 9.23%, respectively. Maps of the sex-specific prevalence of OW/OB demonstrate a marked geographical variation of childhood OW/OB in different regions. Prevalence of childhood OW/OB had a significant positive spatial autocorrelation among both boys and girls. LISA analysis identified significant clusters (or 'hot spots') of childhood OW/OB in the eastern coastal region, central region and southwestern region. Conclusions: The prevalence of childhood OW/OB is highly spatially clustered. Geographically focused appropriate intervention should be introduced in current childhood OW/OB prevention and control strategy.