Obesity Prevalence in Primary School Children in Baghdad City

Abstract

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in developed as well as in developing countries. Overweight and obesity in childhood are known to have significant impact on both physical and psychological health. Overweight and obese children are likely to stay obese into adulthood and more likely to develop non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at a younger age. Environmental factors, lifestyle preferences, and cultural environment play pivotal roles in the rising prevalence of obesity worldwide. In general, overweight and obesity are assumed to be the results of an increase in caloric and fat intake. On the other hand, there are supporting evidence that excessive sugar intake by soft drink, increased portion size, and steady decline in physical activity have been playing major roles in the rising rates of obesity all around the world. In this study a survey on the prevalence of obesity among primary schoolchildren using CDC (Center of Disease Control and Prevention) criteria in Baghdad city was investigated, A total of 6368 children in the 6 - 13-year-old age were included (from six primary schools) as the target population, the results indicated that the obese boys percent were more than girls in these six primary schools, for boys it was (64.28%) and for girls it was (35.72%). Also it has been found that the diet habit and family history were the most important factors that can play major role in obesity induction in children.