İstanbul'da 6-15 Yaş Arası Çocuklarda Obezite Prevalansı

Abstract

Aim: This research aims to evaluate the prevalence of obesity and nutritional habits in children aged 6-15 in a district of Istanbul.Method: This is a cross-sectional study conducted with 2452 students aged 6-15 in 19 primary schools in Avcılar district of Istanbul. A face-to-face questionnaire was applied about the children's nutrition habits and food consumption frequencies. Children's height, weight, waist and hip circumference measurements were taken. Children were categorized according to Z-scores. Statistics were made using the SPSS 21 program. Results: A total of 47.8% of students were boys, 52.2% were girls. The mean age of the students was 9.47±2.21 years, average BMI was 18.7±3.73 kg/m2. Overweight and obesity prevalence was 20.3% and 13.2%, respectively. The obesity prevalence of 9-y-old was at the highest level, and males were more obese than females (p<0.001). A significant difference was found between obese and non-obese students in terms of snacking while studying and watching TV, and the frequency of some food consumption (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was found that one out of every three children was overweight. In addition to national and international policies, regional and local follow-ups and taking necessary precautions may be beneficial in controlling childhood obesity.