The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing rapidly worldwide and poses a significant health problem in nearly all Industrialised countries. Childhood obesity results not only in social stigmatisation of obese children and may have deleterious social and economic consequences it has also dramatic health consequences. Childhood obesity is one of the most important risk factors for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or abnormal lipid profiles but also for psychological and emotional morbidity during childhood and in later life. These risk factors may operate through the association between child and adult obesity. Approximately one third of obese children and adolescents are predicted to be obese as adults. Therefore the increasing prevalence of obesity and overweight during childhood has also implications for long-term health and longevity. Overweight during adolescence are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, colon cancer and arthritis among adult men and women. Because of this public health importance, the trends in childhood obesity should be monitored and risk factors analysed.  Beside genetic factors obesity seems to be largely caused by an environment that promotes excessive food intake and discourages physical activity. In Industrialized countries this kind of environment seems to be typical of families with a low socio-economic status. Beside a low socio-economic status migrant status is also discussed to be an important risk factor to develop overweight or obesity during childhood.  Therefore socio-biological analyses of childhood obesity may provide new aspects of this problem. 

Previous projects:

• Social and biological aspects of overweight during childhood and adolescence

• Epidemiology of overweight and obesity among Austrian children

Current project:

• Migration and health