OBJECTIVETo investigate obesity, overweight and related factors of Kazakh children aged from 6 to 13 years old in Yili, Xinjiang.

METHODSWith stratified cluster sampling method, 2438 Kazakh children aged 6 - 13 from eight elementary schools were recruited from the Yili Kazakh autonomy region from May to June in 2009. Height, weight, blood pressure, waist circumference and hip circumference were measured. Body mass index (BMI) value was used to determine overweight or obesity. The overweight and obesity distribution pattern of gender, age (6 - 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 - 14 years old group) and region (city, county and countryside) was analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of overweight or obesity.

RESULTSThe prevalence of obesity and overweight in Yili Kazakh autonomy region was 1.64% (40/2438) (male: 1.62% (20/1232), female 1.66% (20/1206) (χ(2) = 0.69, P = 0.41)), and 5.13% (25/2438) (male: 4.79% (59/1232), female 5.47% (66/1206) (χ(2) = 0.59, P = 0.44)), respectively. The obesity prevalence of 6 - 7 year-old children was 3.72% (8/215), 2.30% (10/435) for 12 year-old group and 2.19% (6/274) for 13 - 14 year-old group. The difference of obesity and overweight prevalence among different age groups was significant (χ(2) = 14.29, P = 0.04). The prevalence of overweight was 8.77% (35/399), 6.92% (74/1069), 1.65% (16/970) (χ(2) = 42.09, P = 0.00) in city, county and countryside. And the prevalence of obesity was 2.75% (11/399), 2.43% (27/1069), 0.30% (3/970) (χ(2) = 18.13, P = 0.00) in city, county and countryside. Logistic regression analysis showed that children with family obesity history (OR = 2.73, 95%CI: 1.42 - 5.22) and culture level of fathers (OR = 1.65, 95%CI: 0.29 - 9.25) were independent risk factors of obesity. There was a correlation between blood pressure and waist-to-hip rate (r = 0.10, P = 0.00). Moreover, the correlation existed between systolic pressure (r = 0.47, P = 0.00), diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.37, P = 0.00) and BMI. Correlation existed between waist circumference (r = 0.81, P = 0.00), hip circumference (r = 0.78, P = 0.00) and BMI.

CONCLUSIONThere is no sex difference of overweight and obesity prevalence in Kazakh children aged from 6 to 13 year-old. Both family history of obesity and culture level of the fathers are factors of obesity and overweight to Kazakh children.