A systematic review and meta-analysis of weight status among adolescents in Cyprus: scrutinizing the data for the years 2000-2010.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to evaluate by pooled and sensitivity analyses all available data on adolescent overweight/obesity in Cyprus. DESIGN A thorough literature search determined the studies to be examined using Cypriot adolescent samples aged 10-18 years old, with weight status in each sex classified according to the IOTF criteria, published between the years 2001-2011. Eight studies were retrieved, but three fulfilled the criteria for the sensitivity analyses. RESULTS The pooled prevalence of obesity was 9.8% in boys (n = 6081). The pooled analysis classified 6.1% (n = 3886) of girls as obese, whereas a higher prevalence was observed by the sensitivity analysis 6.4% (n = 1956, p ≤ 0.001). The boys' prevalence of overweight was 19.3% and the girls' 17.1%. Between sexes, boys demonstrated a higher prevalence of obesity and overweight (p ≤ 0.001 for both). The cumulative analyses demonstrated an increase in the prevalence of overweight/obesity until the year 2005 and thereafter a plateauing in boys and a slight decrease in girls in a non-linear manner. CONCLUSION Approximately 1/3 of adolescent boys and 1/4 of adolescent girls in Cyprus were overweight/obese during the previous decade.