Prevalence of overweight and obesity among children in Greenland: a growing concern. — International journal of circumpolar health (2026)

Resumo clínico (PT)

Estudo transversal com 4715 crianças da Gronelândia (3–10 anos), com classificação ponderal segundo critérios da International Obesity Task Force. Em 2023, 37,1% apresentavam excesso ponderal ou obesidade (12,6% obesas) e 61,1% peso normal, sem diferenças relevantes por sexo ou local de residência. A prevalência na entrada escolar aumentou de 7,5% (1980) para 33,4% (2023). Conclusão: há uma carga epidemiológica elevada e tendência de agravamento precoce, reforçando a necessidade de prevenção pediátrica estruturada e vigilância nacional contínua — com paralelos úteis para contextos de saúde pública com desafios metabólicos semelhantes.

Abstract (original)

To investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children aged 3 to 10 years in Greenland. Further, to describe the prevalence of overweight and obesity according to sex, place of residence and age, including change over time. In a cross-sectional study, we included 4715 children aged 3-10 years, using data from the national electronic medical records. BMI was calculated and children were categorised into age and sex-specific weight classes according to cut-off values established by the International Obesity Task Force. In 2023, 37.1% of children in Greenland aged 3-10 years were classified as overweight or obese (12.6% obese). The proportion of children with normal weight was 61.1%. We saw no noticeable differences in the distribution of weight classes according to place of residence and sex. Further, our study illustrates a significant rise in the prevalence of overweight and obesity at the time of school entry, increasing from 7.5% in 1980 to 33.4% in 2023. This study demonstrates a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among children in Greenland, and further highlights a striking increase at school entry over recent decades. These findings underscore the urgent need for early prevention efforts and continued nationwide surveillance.