Prevalence and comparison of obesity, overweight, and thinness by different growth standards among affluent schoolchildren (8–18 years) in Rajkot

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Background: The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of obesity, overweight, and thinness and compare it using different growth standards among schoolchildren and adolescents. Material and Methods: Anthropometric measurements of all students of four schools from 3rd to 12th standards were taken. Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and thinness was measured and compared using four standards – Agarwal 2001 standards, revised Indian Association of Paediatrics (IAP) 2015, World Health Organization (WHO) 2007, and International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) standards. Results: A total of 1496 children including 79.1% boys and 20.9% girls participated. Prevalence of obesity was reported 9.1% by Agarwal standards, 14% by IAP standards, 11.1% by WHO standards, and 5.1% by IOTF standards. Overweight children prevalence was reported more (19.1%) with IAP standards, followed by 17% with Agarwal standards, 15.8% with IOTF standards, and 15.3% by WHO standards. Prevalence of obesity and overweight was high among boys than girls in all three standards. A good level of agreement found among IAP 2015 standards with Agarwal and WHO 2007 standards considering four categories. The agreement was improved further up to 0.90 when compared to two combined categories – overweight/obese versus normal weight/thinness. Conclusion: High prevalence of obesity and overweight was reported with IAP 2015, Agarwal, and WHO 2007 standards in the age group of 8–18 years. Good agreement was found for revised IAP 2015 with Agarwal and WHO 2007 standards for measuring obesity and overweight. There was an underestimation of obesity with IOTF standards.