Greek Childhood Obesity (GRECO) Study (GRECO)

Greek Childhood Obesity Study

The purpose of the GRECO study were to: a) to provide national data on overweight and obesity prevalence in a representative sample of primary schoolchildren aged 10-12 years old, b) to identify those socio-economic, demographic factors, as well as dietary and physical activity habits and familial characteristics that are associated with childhood and preadolescent overweight and obesity, c) to identify lifestyle and dietary patterns that are associated with elevated blood pressure levels and dietary sodium intake.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Obesity; Overweight; Physical Activity; Blood Pressure; Dietary Habits

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 5000

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Greece
  • Attica
    • Athens, Attica, Greece, 11855
      • Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 10 years to 12 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

A nationwide cross-sectional sample of 10-12 years old Greek schoolchildren

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Within the age range
• 5th and 6th grade public schools children
• Consent form provided by the parents

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not providing signed parental consent forms
• Outside the required age range

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Overweight and obesity prevalence in a representative sample of primary schoolchildren aged 10-12 years old	Assessment of overweight and obesity by measuring body weight and standing height. Body mass index was calculated by dividing weight (kg) by standing height squared (m2). Obesity and overweight among children were calculated using the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) age and gender specific body mass index cut-off criteria	8 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Dietary intake assessment	Dietary assessment was based on a validated self-reported, semi-quantitative picture-aid food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), consisted of 48 food items commonly used in the local Greek cuisine.	8 months
Assessment of eating behaviors	Assessment of the frequency of breakfast consumption and number of eating occasions (number of meals and snacks during the day), as well as the frequency of having meals in front of a screen (watching television/DVD/videos and/or using of games consoles/computer), and the frequency of having meals together with the whole family or at least with one family member.	8 months
Assessment of physical activity and inactivity levels	Physical activity levels assessment was performed by the Physical Activity Questionnaire for older Children. Children were also asked whether they had television or computer in their room and were asked to report the average weekdays and weekend time (h/d) spent on sedentary activities and more specifically on watching television/DVD/movies and/or recreational usage of games consoles/computer.	8 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Blood pressure measurements	Blood pressure was measured in a single occasion within the schools' settings using validated oscillometric devices	8 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Agricultural University of Athens
• Collaborators: General Secretariat of Consumers-Greek Ministry of Development; Hellenic Association of Food and Beverage Companies; Coca Cola Hellas; Coca Cola Hellenic Bottling Company; Cereal Partners Hellas; FAGE S.A.; Unilever Hellas; Nestle Hellas; Kraft Foods Hellas; European Union and Greek national funds - Research Funding Program: Heraclitus II.
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Paul Farajian, PhD, Agricultural University of Athens

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Farajian P, Risvas G, Karasouli K, Pounis GD, Kastorini CM, Panagiotakos DB, Zampelas A. Very high childhood obesity prevalence and low adherence rates to the Mediterranean diet in Greek children: the GRECO study. Atherosclerosis. 2011 Aug;217(2):525-30. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2011.04.003. Epub 2011 Apr 13.
• Magriplis E, Farajian P, Pounis GD, Risvas G, Panagiotakos DB, Zampelas A. High sodium intake of children through 'hidden' food sources and its association with the Mediterranean diet: the GRECO study. J Hypertens. 2011 Jun;29(6):1069-76. doi: 10.1097/HJH.0b013e328345ef35.
• Farajian P, Panagiotakos DB, Risvas G, Karasouli K, Bountziouka V, Voutzourakis N, Zampelas A. Socio-economic and demographic determinants of childhood obesity prevalence in Greece: the GRECO (Greek Childhood Obesity) study. Public Health Nutr. 2013 Feb;16(2):240-7. doi: 10.1017/S1368980012002625. Epub 2012 May 25.
• Risvas G, Papaioannou I, Panagiotakos DB, Farajian P, Bountziouka V, Zampelas A. Perinatal and family factors associated with preadolescence overweight/obesity in Greece: the GRECO study. J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2012 Sep;2(3):145-53. doi: 10.1016/j.jegh.2012.06.002. Epub 2012 Aug 18.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 1, 2009
• Study Completion (Actual): May 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 31, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 31, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): April 3, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): April 8, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 7, 2014
• Last Verified: April 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Obesity; Overweight; Dietary intake; Physical activity levels; Blood pressure levels; Family perceptions
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Body Weight; Obesity; Pediatric Obesity; Overweight
• Other Study ID Numbers: AgriculturalUA