[Increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in Dutch children, and the detection of overweight and obesity using international criteria and new reference diagrams].

Objective: To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Dutch children in 1980 and 1997 according to international criteria, and to design new reference diagrams for overweight and obesity in children.

Design: Descriptive.

Method: The prevalence of overweight and obesity, based on height and weight data from the Fourth Dutch Growth Study (1997), was determined according to international criteria for age and sex.

Results: In 1997, the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased in both boys and girls compared to 1980: in 1997, the prevalence of overweight ranged between 7.1 and 15.5% for boys, and between 8.2 and 16.1% for girls. Both the prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher in girls than in boys.

Conclusion: By applying the international criteria for overweight and obesity and reference growth diagrams based upon the 1997 Dutch growth study, the prevention and detection of overweight and obesity has to be implemented with vigour in Dutch youth health care.