Objective To examine nutrition status and self-rated nutrition and body shape among urban middle and primary school students in various regions of China and to provide evidences for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.
Methods We selected 1 755 primary and middle school students aged 8 – 17 years using stratified random cluster sampling in urban areas of 7 counties or districts with Nutrition Campus Program across China. Height and weight measurement and a questionnaire survey were carried out among the students from March to June 2017.
Results The prevalence rate malnutrition and overweight/obesity was 11.5% and 23.4% among the students. Among the students, 27.5%, 49.0% and 23.6% reported self rated malnutrition, normal weight, and overweight/obesity, respectively. Of all the students, only 59.4% reported the self-rated nutrition status consistent with the measurements of height and weight, with a significantly lower consistency rate (Kappa = 0.32, P < 0.01); 27.9% and 12.7% reported underestimated and overestimated self-rated nutrition status. The consistency between self-rated and objectively assessed nutrition status differed by regions and nutrition status among the students. There were only 56.6% of the students reporting satisfaction to their body shape and the satisfaction ratio differed by region, gender, grade, and nutrition status among the students.
Conclusion The biased, especially the underestimated, self-rated nutrition status and being unsatisfactory to body shape are prevalent among urban primary and middle school students in China.
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