Prevalence and Determinants of Overweight and Obesity Among Romanian Children Aged 5–17: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background/Objectives: Overweight and obesity in children is a worldwide health concern, with a high prevalence and an increasing trend in recent years. The prevalence of pediatric overweight and obesity in Romania is unclear; some studies estimate the rate of overweight at 15–20% and the obesity rate at 8.7–10.7%. The objective of this study is to measure the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children in Romania and to highlight their risks and protective factors. Methods: A repeated cross-sectional study that included children between 5 and 17 years old was performed across 2 years. Anamnestic data regarding demographics, family, and child’s lifestyle was collected from the child’s parent, and some medical and anthropometric parameters of the child were measured. The BMI and z-scores were calculated using the WHO charts. Logistic regression models were verified for goodness-of-fit and used for estimating the prediction value of fast-food consumption, parents’ education, and the presence of parents with obesity in the case of increased weight in the child. Results: A total of 1231 children were included in the study, 25.1% of whom exhibited an excess of weight. The prevalences of overweight and obesity were 17.5% and 7.6%, respectively. In the multivariate model, the following variables significantly predicted the weight of children: days of fast-food consumption, parents’ education, parents with excess weight, and hours of physical activity (p < 0.005) Conclusions: The prevalence of pediatric overweight and obesity in Romania is in accordance with the global prevalence. Considering fast-food consumption and the presence of parents with obesity as risk factors for children’s overweight or obesity and physical activity and a higher level of education of the parent as protector factors, we strongly emphasize the importance of public health initiatives directed towards these factors.