Aim
To assess time trends in overweight and obesity prevalence among 5–6‐year‐old children of Bordeaux city (France) over seven school years from 2004–2005 to 2010–2011.
Methods
For each year, all 5–6‐year‐old children from 63 of the 69 schools of Bordeaux were included: 2005, 2100, 2010, 1952, 2040, 2017 and 2111 subjects, respectively. Weight and height were collected by school doctors, and weight status was defined according to the age‐ and sex‐specific body mass index cut‐off points of the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) for obesity and to the French age‐ and gender‐specific child cut‐off (close to the IOTF cut‐off) for overweight including obesity.
Results
From 2004–2005 to 2010–2011, an overall decrease was observed in overweight including obesity (from 8.9% to 5.2%, p < 0.001) and obesity prevalences (from 2.8% to 1.4%, p = 0.046). Similar results were observed in non‐low socio‐economic status (SES) areas (p < 0.001), whereas the prevalence did not vary significantly in low‐SES areas (p > 0.05).
Conclusion
Overweight prevalence has decreased between 2004 and 2011 in 5–6‐year‐old children from Bordeaux. However, the gap between low and non‐low‐SES areas has persisted during these years.