Drastic increases in overweight and obesity from 1981 to 2010 and related risk factors: results from the Barbados Children's Health and Nutrition Study

Objective: To examine overweight and obesity (OWOB), changes in prevalence and potential risk factors in Barbadian children. Design: A cross-section of students were weighed and measured. The WHO BMI-for-age growth references (BAZ), the International Obesity Task Force cut-offs and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth percentiles were used to determine OWOB prevalence. Harvard weight-for-height-for-age growth standards were used to estimate differences in OWOB prevalence from 1981 to 2010. Samples of parents and students were interviewed to describe correlates of OWOB. Setting: Barbados. Subjects: Public-school students (n 580) in class 3. Results: Based on WHO BAZ, the overall prevalence of OWOB was 34.8 % (95 % CI 30.9, 38.7 %). A trend of higher OWOB prevalence was seen for girls across cut-offs, with significant sex differences noted using the International Obesity Task Force cut-offs. According to Harvard growth standards, OWOB has increased dramatically, from 8.52 % to 32.5 %. Children were more likely to be OWOB when annual household income was below BBD 9000 (OR=2.69; 95 % CI 1.21, 5.99). Eating dinner with the family every night was associated with a lower prevalence of OWOB (OR=0.56; 95 % CI 0.36, 0.87). Conclusions: The sharp increase of OWOB rates in Barbados warrants attention. Sex disparities in OWOB prevalence may emerge at a young age. Promoting family meals may be a feasible option for OWOB prevention. Understanding familial and sociodemographic factors influencing OWOB will be useful in planning successful intervention or prevention programmes in Barbados.