Background: Childhood overweight prevalence increases worldwide. The aim of the study was to clarify the change in underweight, overweight and obesity in seven year old Czech children since 1951.
Methods: Data on underweight, overweight and obesity prevalence were obtained using repeated cross-sectional surveys. In 1951-2001 six Czech National Anthropological Surveys were conducted. In years 2008 and 2010 the data were collected as a part of the WHO Europe initiated Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). The data were evaluated according to WHO references (2007), in 2010 results were assessed also according to the Czech reference standards (1991).
Results: From 1951, overweight and obesity prevalence increased in both genders up to 2001. In 2008, a modest decrease in obesity and stable overweight prevalence in girls and in boys a slight increase in obesity and decrease in overweight were found. In 2010, a modest increase in obesity prevalence in girls achieving the levels assessed in 2001 and stable level of overweight were found; in boys the levels remained as in 2008. BMI z score increased significantly between 1951 and 2001.
Conclusion: These results suggest stabilisation of obesity and overweight prevalence in the Czech Republic in 7 years old children during the last 10 years. Underweight prevalence has remained low.