Some 14,000 children and teenagers were put on the scales during the 2019-2020 school year, with 17.1% of them recorded as overweight, the Swiss Health Promotion body said on Thursday.
Overweight in this case means a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 25, the association said. Some 4.2% were obese, with a BMI over 30.
Overall the values were similar to previous measurements, although a significant difference was noted between boys and girls this time. This was especially clear in the 14- to 16-year-old category, where 26.8% of boys were overweight, compared with 21.8% of girls.
Risk factors
Various statistical factors contribute to the likelihood of being overweight, according to the data presented on Thursday.
Age is one of them. Between playschool and secondary school, the percentage of overweight children rises from 12% to 18%.
Children of non-Swiss parents are also more likely to be overweight than Swiss. The single biggest factor, however, is a lower level of education among the parents.
More
More
Obesity figures stabilise among Swiss kids
This content was published on
One in six schoolchildren (17.3%) was overweight or obese in Switzerland last year, a survey has revealed.
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
How is your country dealing with the return of stolen artifacts?
Western nations like Switzerland often have to deal with the process of recovering or returning looted artifacts which have been illegally imported. What’s the situation like in your country?
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.