Emerging obesity among preschool-aged Canadian Inuit children: results from the Nunavut Inuit Child Health Survey

Abstract

Stature in preschool-age Inuit children is comparable to the U.S. reference, indicating that the previously reported secular trend toward increasing height has continued. Overweight prevalence is higher than that previously reported in Inuit children and may be occurring at an earlier age. The gender difference in child overweight prevalence runs counter to that reported in adults, leading to concern that contemporary growth atterns may result in significant increases in obesity-related illness for young Inuit men.