Migration background and overweight prevalence in preschool children

Migration background is accepted as an important health determinant in public health research. This contribution presents the findings on ethnic differences in the prevalence of children overweight derived from the school entry examination data in the Hannover Region in 2010–2014. The prevalence of overweight was significantly higher among migrant children (12.7%) than among the non-migrant children (6.9%). While all ethnic groups showed an educational gradient in the prevalence of overweight, the gradient tended to be more evident in non-migrant children. Further efforts in childhood overweight prevention are needed to successfully address especially children with less educated parents or migrant background.