Systematic Review of Prevalence of Young Child Overweight and Obesity in the United States-Affiliated Pacific Region Compared With the 48 Contiguous States: The Children's Healthy Living Program

Abstract

We estimated overweight and obesity (OWOB) prevalence of children in US-Affiliated Pacific jurisdictions (USAP) of the Children's Healthy Living Program compared with the contiguous United States. We searched peer-reviewed literature and government reports (January 2001-April 2014) for OWOB prevalence of children aged 2 to 8 years in the USAP and found 24 sources. We used 3 articles from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys for comparison. Mixed models regressed OWOB prevalence on an age polynomial to compare trends (n = 246 data points). In the USAP, OWOB prevalence estimates increased with age, from 21% at age 2 years to 39% at age 8 years, increasing markedly at age 5 years; the proportion obese increased from 10% at age 2 years to 23% at age 8 years. The highest prevalence was in American Samoa and Guam.

Figures

FIGURE 1—

Predicted prevalence of overweight, obesity, and overweight or obesity for ages 2–8 years among all US-Affiliated Pacific jurisdictions combined, in literature published January 2001–April 2014. Note. Prevalence estimates are predicted values from a meta-regression of overweight or obesity prevalence on an age quintic polynomial curve. Overweight defined as ≥ 85th to ≤ 94th percentile; obesity as ≥ 95th percentile, and overweight or obesity as ≥ 85th percentile.

FIGURE 2—

Predicted prevalence of overweight and obesity, ages 2–8 years, for the US-Affiliated Pacific region (USAP) combined, individual USAP jurisdictions, and the 48 contiguous United States, in literature published January 2001–April 2014. Note. CNMI = Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; US = United States. Prevalence estimates are predicted values from a meta-regression of overweight and obesity prevalence on an age quintic polynomial curve. Overweight and obesity defined as ≥ 85th percentile.