In the United States, the CDC 2011/12 statistics show that more than 30% of children have either been diagnosed with obesity or overweight, which is higher than the 17% witnessed in the most current survey finding on the prevalence or incidence. In addition, international statistics that were presented by the CDC 2012 survey findings in the USA showed that more than 22. 37 million children who are below 14 years can be classified as either overweight or obese, while more than one-third of the USA adults are obese, that is, above 72 million (Katzmarzyk, 2012).
The CDC 2012 survey results also indicated that there was a wide disparity in obesity or overweight prevalence among children, in terms of sex and racial or ethnic groupings. Moreover, more girls than boys were found to be overweight. This can be supported by the 2012 CDC report, which indicated that 28.89% of girls were either obese or overweight while the statistics percentage of boys stood at 26.12% (Katzmarzyk, 2012).
In the UK, another developed country, the prevalence of obesity and overweight among children, according to 2011/2012 statistical findings 24% boys and 22% girls aged between 11 and 14 were classed as either obese or overweight. These statistics presented some increase in the prevalence rate of 9% against the15% in 2009 (Oster & Toth, 2009). According to these statistical findings, obesity and overweight are more prevalent among boys than girls (Oster & Toth, 2009).
In Australia, the prevalence of obesity and overweight among children has always been on the rising trend over the past two decades. This can be supported by the National Health Survey (NHS) 2010/2011 data report, which showed that out of 10 Australian children, 3 were either obese or overweight (National Aboriginal Health Organization, 2011). This is a rather worrying trend since the number of obese and overweight children has risen from 22.9% to 27.3% in 2009 and 2011 respectively (Katzmarzyk, 2012).
Moreover, obesity/overweight incidence among children has risen significantly over the last twenty years. This puts childhood obesity rates in Australia at the highest among the developed countries of the world. Currently, about 28% of children in Australia are classified as either obese or overweight (Katzmarzyk, 2012), which is more than the rate of 5%, which was witnessed in 2009 (Dyck, 2009). There are remarkable differences in prevalence rates of obesity and overweight among children in Australia.
For instance, studies have ascertained that obesity and overweight prevalence rates are about 50% among boys of 11 years whose descent is Middle Eastern, in comparison to the 26% rate among boys of the same age, whose descendants were from the United States of America (Raine, 2009). Comparably, the prevalence rate among boys from European backgrounds was also found to be relatively high.
Similarly, studies have also established that overweight and obesity are significantly prevalent among both boys and girls of all age groups, who originate from Pacific Islanders. The percentage for boys stands at 26.8 % against 23.7% for girls (National Aboriginal Health Organization, 2011). In fact, more boys than girls were found to be either obese or overweight (Katzmarzyk, 2012). In essence, cultural factors such as racial or ethnic origins played significant roles in determining the prevalence levels. For example, it was established that the number of boys and girls who are of Pacific Islander background, Middle Eastern or Arabic descent were 4 to 5 times prone to obese or overweight pandemic (Katzmarzyk, 2012).
References
Dyck, M. (2009). Social Determinants of Métis Health. Ottawa, Ont.: National Aboriginal Health Organization Publication.
Katzmarzyk, P. (2012). “Familial Risk of Obesity and Central Adipose Tissue Distribution in the General Canadian Population.” American Journal of Epidemiology, 26, 152-159.
Katzmarzyk, P., Hebebrand, J. & Bouchard, C. (2011). “Spousal Resemblance in the Canadian Population: Implications for the Obesity Epidemic.” International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders, 29, 216-237.
National Aboriginal Health Organization (2011). Broader Determinants of Health in an Aboriginal Context. Ottawa, Ont.: NAHO Publication.
Oster, R. & Toth, E. (2009). “Differences in the Prevalence of Diabetes Risk-Factors among First Nation, Metis and Non-Aboriginal Adults Attending Screening Clinics in Rural Alberta, Canada.” Journal of Rural and Remote Health, 9, 1170-1177.
Raine, K. (2009). Overweight and Obesity in Canada, a Population Health Perspective. Ottawa, Ont.: CIHI Publication.