High prevalence of overweight in inner-city schoolchildren

E. Okamoto, L. L. Davidson and D. R. Conner
Department of Pediatrics, Harlem Hospital Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY.

The weights and heights of 1670 Harlem children aged 5 to 11 years (879 boys, 791 girls) were compared with the National Center for Health Statistics standards. The median height for age and weight for age were greater by 1.4 cm and 2.2 kg in boys and 2.7 cm and 2.8 kg in girls. Weight distribution was skewed to the right and showed a bimodal pattern. "Height-ages" were advanced by an average of 0.24 years in boys and 0.47 years in girls. Weight for height in 13.9% of girls and 13.6% of boys were above the 95th percentile. The results are consistent with early maturation. However, even after adjusting for height, shift to the right of the weight distribution persists with a large subgroup of boys and girls who are overweight.