Children’s age and risk of obesity: The Cyprus National COSI program

Background Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern in Europe and Cyprus. The European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) provides a comprehensive system to monitor childhood obesity across Europe and beyond. Our aim was to examine the association between age and childhood obesity in Cyprus. Methods Data from a representative sample of children 6–9 years participating in the 4th, 5th, and 6th round of the Cyprus National COSI program were assessed for overweight and obesity based on WHO guidelines. Data were collected by trained assessors using standardized procedures and questionnaires. Statistical analyses included the calculation of BMI/A z-scores and obesity prevalence. Results A total of 1,507, 2,190 and 2021 children were included in the study from the 4th, 5th, and 6th round of the Cyprus National COSI program. Older children were more likely to be obese compared to the younger children. Specifically, in the 6th round, children 9–10 years of age were 60% significantly more likely to be obese compared to children 6–7 years of age [OR = 1.59, 95% CI (1.33–1.91)]. Even after adjusting for several factors, older children were 40% more likely to be obese. We also observed a misconception between parents’ opinions and actual measurement of children’s BMI. Conclusions Older children have a higher risk of being obese compared to younger children even at the level of the elementary school. Children should enroll in successful interventions as early as possible, since their risk of becoming overweight and obese is increasing as they grow.