The prevalence of childhood obesity in Wales is 12%. It has been estimated that obesity will cost the NHS £10 billion a year by 2050 (
To determine important risk factors associated with childhood obesity from the data in the Welsh Health Survey 2008 to 2012.
The analysis used survey data from 11,279 children aged 4-15 years. The lifestyle variables considered as potential risk factors for obesity included: intake of sugar-sweetened drinks; unhealthy food consumption; physical activity; and currently-treated illnesses. The sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors included: sex; age; Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation quintile; National Statistics Socio-economic Classification; and housing tenure.
A total of 1,582 (20%) children were obese. A significant association was found between obesity and having one illness – odds ratio (OR) 1.20 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05 to 1.38,
Every child should meet the physical activity recommendation and those with an illness should receive a care plan to prevent or manage obesity, although this is difficult in the time available for children in clinics and consultations.
Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2017.e855
Correspondence Peer reviewThis article has been subject to open peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software
Received: 20 September 2016
Accepted: 13 January 2017
Published online: 27 June 2017
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