Trends in a life threatening condition: Morbid obesity in Dutch, Turkish and Moroccan children in the Netherlands

Background: Morbid obesity can be a life threatening condition. The aim of our study is to assess the trend in morbid obesity in The Netherlands among children of Dutch origin since 1980, and among children of Turkish and Moroccan origin since 1997. Methods and Findings: Cross-sectional height and weight data of children of Dutch, Turkish and Moroccan origin aged 2- 18 years were selected from three national Dutch Growth Studies performed in 1980, 1997 and 2009 (n = 54,814). Extended international (IOTF) cut-offs in childhood were used to define morbid obesity (obesity class II and III combine... Mehr ...