N. SakamotoS. WansornK. TontisirinE. MaruiNational Center for Global Health and MedicineMahidol University2018-09-072018-09-072001-03-24International Journal of Obesity. Vol.25, No.3 (2001), 389-394030705652-s2.0-0035096168https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/26818OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of childhood obesity in a moderately industrialized province in Thailand and examine the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on childhood obesity. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: One thousand one hundred and fifty seven children in the second or third grade of kindergartens in Saraburi Province, Thailand. MEASUREMENTS: Height and weight were measured and the weight-for-height index with the Thai national standard was used for assessing nutritional status. A questionnaire was used for measuring parents' socioeconomic status. RESULTS: The prevalence of childhood obesity over 97th percentile for weight-for-height (>p97) was 22.7% in urban and 7.4% in rural areas. There were marked relationships between childhood obesity and parents' educational level and household income. CONCLUSION: Childhood obesity is an emerging health problem in developing countries, especially in urban areas. This study demonstrates a marked correlation between SES and prevalence of childhood obesity in an Asian developing country.Mahidol UniversityMedicineNursingArticleSCOPUS10.1038/sj.ijo.0801477