Determinants of (sustained) overweight and complaints in children and adolescents in primary care: the DOERAK cohort study design

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Almost half of the adult Dutch population is currently overweight and the prevalence of overweight children is rising at alarming rates as well. Obese children consult their general practitioner (GP) more often than normal weight chi...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Paulis Winifred D, van Middelkoop Marienke, Bueving Herman, Luijsterburg Pim A J, van der Wouden Johannes C, Koes Bart W
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2012-07-01
Series:BMC Family Practice
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/13/70
_version_ 1818114973293871104
author Paulis Winifred D
van Middelkoop Marienke
Bueving Herman
Luijsterburg Pim A J
van der Wouden Johannes C
Koes Bart W
author_facet Paulis Winifred D
van Middelkoop Marienke
Bueving Herman
Luijsterburg Pim A J
van der Wouden Johannes C
Koes Bart W
author_sort Paulis Winifred D
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Almost half of the adult Dutch population is currently overweight and the prevalence of overweight children is rising at alarming rates as well. Obese children consult their general practitioner (GP) more often than normal weight children. The Dutch government has assigned a key role to the GP in the prevention of overweight.</p> <p>The DOERAK cohort study aims to clarify differences between overweight and non-overweight children that consult the GP; are there differences in number of consultations and type and course of complaints? Is overweight associated with lower quality of life or might this be influenced by the type of complaint? What is the activity level of overweight children compared to non-overweight children? And is (sustained) overweight of children associated with parameters related to the energy balance equation?</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>A total of 2000 overweight (n = 500) and non-overweight children (n = 1500) aged 2 to 18 years who consult their GP, for any type of complaint in the South-West of the Netherlands are included.</p> <p>At baseline, height, weight and waist circumference are measured during consultation. The number of GP consultations over the last twelve months and accompanying diagnoses are acquired from the medical file. Complaints, quality of life and parameters related to the energy balance equation are assessed with an online questionnaire children or parents fill out at home. Additionally, children or parents keep a physical activity diary during the baseline week, which is validated in a subsample (n = 100) with an activity monitor. Parents fill out a questionnaire about demographics, their own activity behaviour and perceptions on dietary habits and activity behaviour, health and weight status of their child. The physical and lifestyle behaviour questions are repeated at 6, 12 and 24 months follow-up.</p> <p>The present study is a prospective observational cohort in a primary care setting.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The DOERAK cohort study is the first prospective study that investigates a large cohort of overweight and non-overweight children in primary care. The total study population is expected to be recruited by 2013, results will be available in 2015.</p>
first_indexed 2024-12-11T03:59:14Z
format Article
id doaj.art-a7d9cf108d144cf2aeee4d22f8bd5ca7
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1471-2296
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-11T03:59:14Z
publishDate 2012-07-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Family Practice
spelling doaj.art-a7d9cf108d144cf2aeee4d22f8bd5ca72022-12-22T01:21:42ZengBMCBMC Family Practice1471-22962012-07-011317010.1186/1471-2296-13-70Determinants of (sustained) overweight and complaints in children and adolescents in primary care: the DOERAK cohort study designPaulis Winifred Dvan Middelkoop MarienkeBueving HermanLuijsterburg Pim A Jvan der Wouden Johannes CKoes Bart W<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Almost half of the adult Dutch population is currently overweight and the prevalence of overweight children is rising at alarming rates as well. Obese children consult their general practitioner (GP) more often than normal weight children. The Dutch government has assigned a key role to the GP in the prevention of overweight.</p> <p>The DOERAK cohort study aims to clarify differences between overweight and non-overweight children that consult the GP; are there differences in number of consultations and type and course of complaints? Is overweight associated with lower quality of life or might this be influenced by the type of complaint? What is the activity level of overweight children compared to non-overweight children? And is (sustained) overweight of children associated with parameters related to the energy balance equation?</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>A total of 2000 overweight (n = 500) and non-overweight children (n = 1500) aged 2 to 18 years who consult their GP, for any type of complaint in the South-West of the Netherlands are included.</p> <p>At baseline, height, weight and waist circumference are measured during consultation. The number of GP consultations over the last twelve months and accompanying diagnoses are acquired from the medical file. Complaints, quality of life and parameters related to the energy balance equation are assessed with an online questionnaire children or parents fill out at home. Additionally, children or parents keep a physical activity diary during the baseline week, which is validated in a subsample (n = 100) with an activity monitor. Parents fill out a questionnaire about demographics, their own activity behaviour and perceptions on dietary habits and activity behaviour, health and weight status of their child. The physical and lifestyle behaviour questions are repeated at 6, 12 and 24 months follow-up.</p> <p>The present study is a prospective observational cohort in a primary care setting.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The DOERAK cohort study is the first prospective study that investigates a large cohort of overweight and non-overweight children in primary care. The total study population is expected to be recruited by 2013, results will be available in 2015.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/13/70
spellingShingle Paulis Winifred D
van Middelkoop Marienke
Bueving Herman
Luijsterburg Pim A J
van der Wouden Johannes C
Koes Bart W
Determinants of (sustained) overweight and complaints in children and adolescents in primary care: the DOERAK cohort study design
BMC Family Practice
title Determinants of (sustained) overweight and complaints in children and adolescents in primary care: the DOERAK cohort study design
title_full Determinants of (sustained) overweight and complaints in children and adolescents in primary care: the DOERAK cohort study design
title_fullStr Determinants of (sustained) overweight and complaints in children and adolescents in primary care: the DOERAK cohort study design
title_full_unstemmed Determinants of (sustained) overweight and complaints in children and adolescents in primary care: the DOERAK cohort study design
title_short Determinants of (sustained) overweight and complaints in children and adolescents in primary care: the DOERAK cohort study design
title_sort determinants of sustained overweight and complaints in children and adolescents in primary care the doerak cohort study design
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/13/70
work_keys_str_mv AT pauliswinifredd determinantsofsustainedoverweightandcomplaintsinchildrenandadolescentsinprimarycarethedoerakcohortstudydesign
AT vanmiddelkoopmarienke determinantsofsustainedoverweightandcomplaintsinchildrenandadolescentsinprimarycarethedoerakcohortstudydesign
AT buevingherman determinantsofsustainedoverweightandcomplaintsinchildrenandadolescentsinprimarycarethedoerakcohortstudydesign
AT luijsterburgpimaj determinantsofsustainedoverweightandcomplaintsinchildrenandadolescentsinprimarycarethedoerakcohortstudydesign
AT vanderwoudenjohannesc determinantsofsustainedoverweightandcomplaintsinchildrenandadolescentsinprimarycarethedoerakcohortstudydesign
AT koesbartw determinantsofsustainedoverweightandcomplaintsinchildrenandadolescentsinprimarycarethedoerakcohortstudydesign