1832-PUB: SECRET—Screening and Educating Adolescents for Obesity

Abstract

Background: India is predicted to have over 27 million children with obesity, representing over half of the children with obesity in the region and 1 in 10 of all children globally. Aim: To study Obesity prevalence in Adolescents and making timely interventions for healthier lifestyle adoption in urban and rural Ahmedabad. Methodology: A team of physician, nurse, pediatrician, educator took up the task of collecting data from schools in the rural and urban areas of Ahmedabad and periphery of 50kms during months of March-May 2022 with prior consent from guardians at 4 schools. Data including height, weight, abdominal girth, neck circumference was collected along with survey on food intake, type, exercise and habits. Adolescents of age category 14-18 yrs were included. Menstrual history was taken. Obesity was defined using the National Center for Disease Control definitions. We used the NHANES proposed cutoff of ≥90th percentile of Waist Circumference for identifying central obesity and Neck Circumference ≥ 50th percentile for identifying obesity. BP measurement and acanthosis assessment was also done. We conducted seminars on healthy eating and physical activity for all kids irrespective of their health status. Results: Total Cohort: 800, 14-18 years with a 1:1 ratio of girls:boys and same in rural and urban areas. There was higher prevalence of overweight in girls compared with boys (16%vs 12%), but the prevalence of obesity is higher in boys than girls (8%vs6%), the prevalence of underweight is slightly higher in boys than girls (21%vs9.5%). Underweight is more prevalent in rural areas vs obesity in urban areas. Conclusion: Screening adolescents for obesity, and making timely interventions for the prevention of disorders through education and appropriate lifestyle interventions can be one step towards a healthy future of the country. There lies necessity for expanding these screening and education programs through ROOTS ie Recognition, Obesity monitoring, Obesity prevention, Treatment and System based approach. Disclosure V.Chavda: None. D.Hasnani: None. S.Hasnani: None. B.Saboo: None. V.Abichandani: None. A.Shrivastava: None. S.Jha: None. B.D.Saboo: None.