Surveillance of childhood overweight: comparison of "OKkio alla SALUTE" survey and general paediatrics data in the Province of Trento

Estimates of childhood overweight and obesity for the Province of Trento provided by the 2014 "OKkio alla SALUTE" survey (Italian national surveillance system for weight and nutrition in children) were compared with estimates provided by paediatric health forms. The Province of Trento is the only region that makes use of the information gathered through these forms, which are completed by primary care paediatricians as part of the 6-year health evaluation. OKkio alla SALUTE data for children, obtained from students enrolled in the third year of primary school in 2014 (845 children aged 8-9 years), were compared with data collected at the age of 6 for cohorts born in 2006, evaluated in 2012-2013 (3101 subjects). The following prevalence figures were obtained from OKkio alla SALUTE and the 6-year paediatrician evaluation respectively: overweight, 17.4% vs 11.7%; obese, 4.1% vs 4.5%; severely obese, 1.4% vs 1.0%. The two information sources provide similar estimates, suggesting the potential for their integrated use.