Faculty of Medicine

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Author: search.filters.author.Djordjic, VisnjaHas files: Yes

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    Association Between Sub-National Regional Socioeconomic Status and Childhood Obesity in Five South-East European Countries: The WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative—COSI (2019)
    (MDPI AG, 2026-02-13)
    Musić Milanović, Sanja
    ;
    Križan, Helena
    ;
    Šlaus, Nika
    ;
    Brađašević, Emanuel
    ;
    Lang Morović, Maja
    Background/Objectives: This study focused on the sub-national regional heterogeneity in childhood obesity prevalence across five countries in south-east Europe and the correlation between this heterogeneity and socioeconomic differences. Previous studies have mainly observed national or cross-national data but this study used a sub-national regional approach that may be beneficial in the further investigation of childhood obesity. Methods: Nationally representative samples of children from Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia were selected using the COSI methodology and used to estimate regional childhood obesity prevalence values. The Sub-national Human Development Database provided data on the Sub-national Human Development Index (SHDI). The spatial autocorrelation analysis of childhood obesity prevalence in sub-national regions was performed and its association with sub-national human development was tested with an ordinary least squares regression model. Results: This study found statistically significant differences in childhood obesity prevalence across sub-national regions in Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia, while no such differences were observed in North Macedonia and Montenegro. There was moderate clustering in childhood obesity rates (Moran’s I = 0.337). The results indicated a significant negative association between SHDI and childhood obesity prevalence across the 48 regions (β = −66.63, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Future public health efforts should take into consideration regional differences in childhood obesity prevalence, and more targeted research is essential for understanding the mechanisms of resilience and vulnerability on a sub-national level.
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    Differences in body height between the contemporary Western Balkan children and the WHO growth references core sample
    (2019-12-31)
    Starc, Gregor
    ;
    Popovic, Stevo
    ;
    Djordjic, Visnja
    ;
    Ostojic, Sergej
    ;
    Music-Milanovic, Sanja
    Body height is the most commonly used anthropometric measure for the assessment and classification of somatic status and growth. The World Health Organization constructed various growth references intended for global use that are directly derived or indirectly affected by body height, but the WHO core sample is based on country-specific, relatively small, and temporally distant reference samples from the Health Examination Survey Cycle II (1963-65) and the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Cycle I (1971-75). This paper aimed to assess whether the body height of the contemporary 7- to 8-year-olds from the Western Balkans is similar to the body height of their peers from the reference core sample. We utilised the 2017 data from the Western Balkans for comparison, and the analysis showed that contemporary children from this region are more than 4 cm taller from their peers from the core reference sample. The 50th percentile of body height in the Western Balkan sample exceeds the 75th percentile of the core reference sample, which shows that the two populations are quite distinct. The WHO references should, therefore, be used with caution for growth assessment in children from the Western Balkans.