Prevalence and risk factors associated with dysglycemia among overweight and obese Palestinian children in the Hebron governorate

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of dysglycemia among adolescents and younger children has been rising, yet health professionals are still unaware of the significance of this problem. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MOH) records, most diabetic children under the age of 20 in Palestine are classified as type I; nonetheless, very limited data are available for policymakers to frame cost-effective screening programs. This study aims to determine the prevalence of dysglycemia in a sample of obese and overweight Palestinian children, identify risk factors associated with dysglycemia, and examine risk factors variance by gender. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of observed obese and overweight children was selected from public schools in the Hebron governorate. Informed consent, physical examination, anthropometric, and laboratory tests (Blood Glucose Level (BGL) and fasting BGL ) were performed on a sample of 511 students (44.6% boys and 55.4% girls) aged 13–18-years (13-15 years =46.2% and 16-18 years =53.8%). Results: The prevalence of confirmed overweight and obese cases was 73.2%, and dysglycemia prevalence among the confirmed cases was 3.7% (5.3% boys and 2.5% girls). The BMI classifications of the prediabetic children indicated that 42.1% were overweight and 31.1% were obese. Furthermore, 6.7% reported hypertension (both systolic and diastolic hypertension). Conclusions: The results of this study provide valuable information about the rising problem of dysglycemia among Palestinian children and underlines the need for rapid screening programs and protocols for early detection and classification of the disease, leading to initiation of early prevention and treatment plans.