Abstract
Background: Obesity has become a concerning pediatric health problem in the modern era with lifestyle changes in globalization, economic development and easy access to technology. The aim of the study is to study the anthropometric profile of overweight and obesity and its associated risk factors. Subjects and Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study was implemented among randomly chosen 100 obese and overweight children aged between 10-18 years over 15 months. Data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire and anthropometry was done and categorized as overweight and obese as per WHO BMI- age cutoff. Results: 41 % (n=41) were obese and 59% (n=59) were overweight. 65 % (n=65) were males. In all the age groups the mean weight of males was more except in the age group 10-12 years. Mean weight (64.39 12.88 kg) and mean BMI (26.04 1.95 kg/m2) of obese children is significantly higher than mean weight (56.73 9.76 kg) and mean BMI (23.25 1.98 kg/m2) of overweight children respectively. Risk factors like skipping breakfast (p= 0.034), calorie excess (p= 0.032), junk food intake more than once (p=0.008) and junk food daily (p=0.036) were found to be significantly associated with childhood obesity. Conclusion: Sensitization of parents and teachers with school-based programs like active participation in sports, regular anthropometric examinations of students are important measures that can be taken to curb this rising problem.
Highlights
Obesity is considered one of the most serious health challenges of the 21st century
We aimed to identify the anthropometric profile of overweight and obese children and risk factors associated with childhood obesity
Mean weight is more in females in the age group 10 to 12 yrs as compared to males, while in the other two age groups (1315 and 16-18) mean weight is more in males as summarized in [Table 2]
Summary
Obesity is considered one of the most serious health challenges of the 21st century. Obesity is an important pediatric public health problem associated with the risk of complications in childhood and increases mortality and morbidity throughout adult life. [1]Overweight and obesity are the fifth leading risk of global deaths. [2] Over 340 million children and adolescents aged 519 years were overweight or obese in 2016 and prevalence has risen dramatically from 4% in 1975 to 18% in 2016. [3] Developing countries like India have a unique problem of double burden wherein at one end we have obesity in children and at the other end we have malnutrition and underweight. Obesity is an important pediatric public health problem associated with the risk of complications in childhood and increases mortality and morbidity throughout adult life. [2] Over 340 million children and adolescents aged 519 years were overweight or obese in 2016 and prevalence has risen dramatically from 4% in 1975 to 18% in 2016. [1] Etiologies of childhood overweight and obesity include modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. We aimed to identify the anthropometric profile of overweight and obese children and risk factors associated with childhood obesity. The aim of the study is to study the anthropometric profile of overweight and obesity and its associated risk factors. Risk factors like skipping breakfast (p= 0.034), calorie excess (p= 0.032), junk food intake more than once (p=0.008) and junk food daily (p=0.036) were found to be significantly associated with childhood obesity. Conclusion: Sensitization of parents and teachers with school-based programs like active participation in sports, regular anthropometric examinations of students are important measures that can be taken to curb this rising problem
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