Overall Prevalence Of Overweight Research Articles

Prevalence and Determinants of Overweight and Obesity in Hanamkonda District

The present study was undertaken by selecting 2931 subjects in Warangal city, to assess the prevalence of Obesity and its determinants. Among the 4663 study subjects, 2931 (62.86%) were underweight followed by 1283 (27.51%) in normal range. 210 (4.50%) were overweight, 198 (4.25%) and 41 (0.88%) were obese 1 and obese 2 respectively.Among Female, 143 (5.52%) were overweight, 140 (5.41%) and 25(0.97%) were obese 1 and 2 respectively. Among Male, 67 (3.23%) wereoverweight and 58 (2.80%) and 16 (0.77%) were obese 1 and 2 respectively. In the present study, there were more Female (55.52%) than Male (44.48%). The prevalence of overweight / obesity was found more in Female (11.90%). For the study subjects, 2170 exercised and 2493 did not exercise. Of 2170 who exercised, 219 (10.09%) of the study subjects who were overweight/ obese In the present study, the overall prevalence of overweight / obesity was 9.63% and the prevalence of overweight / obesity was 4.50% and 5.13% respectively. overweight / obesity was high in study subjects who were from urban area (9.83%) than from rural areas (8.31%).

Changes in Body Weight and Risk Factors for Overweight and Obesity in 5-6-Year-Old Children Attending School in Geneva.

Background: The prevalence of obesity and overweight in children is increasing in industrialized countries. Monitoring the evolution of these phenomena is essential for understanding prevention and health promotion programs. This study aims to present the analysis of anthropometric data collected by school nurses from the School Health Service of Geneva (Service de santé de l'enfance et de la jeunesse) for children aged 5 to 6 years during the 2021-2022 school year, as well as describe the trends in overweight and obesity from 2003-2004 to 2021-2022. Risk factors were also assessed in the 2021-2022 sample. Methods: This study included a random sample of 958 (479 girls and 479 boys) primary school pupils aged 5 to 6 years in Geneva. Data on weight, height and socioeconomic status were collected. BMI was analyzed using the Cole standard. A multivariate analysis was conducted to assess the influence of socioeconomic factors on overweight and obesity. We compared these results with BMI trends in students of the same age since 2003. Results: In 2021-2022, overall prevalence of overweight was 12.73%, and obesity was 5.64%. Girls had higher rates of overweight (14.20%) and obesity (6.68%) compared to boys (11.27% and 4.59%, respectively) (p < 0.0001). Overweight in boys significantly increased since the 2013-2014 and 2019-2020 measurements (p = 0.003). The trend for girls was similar but not statistically significant. Obesity rates have not significantly increased since 2019-2020 in both genders, but there is a significantly increasing trend for girls since 2013-2014 p = 0.045). Socioeconomic factors, particularly the socioeconomic class of parents, played a predictive role in overweight and obesity. Conclusions: The School Health Service of Geneva and the Directorate General of Health have a crucial role in monitoring and preventing childhood obesity. The prevalence of overweight and obesity has remained high since 2010, justifying continuous efforts for prevention. A significant increase in prevalence has been observed since 2020, particularly among overweight boys, and could be related to COVID-19 confinement measures.

A STUDY ON THE PREVALENCE OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY AMONG WOMEN AGED 20 YEARS AND ABOVE IN RURAL FIELD PRACTICE AREA OF SIMS, HAPUR

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of overweight as well as obesity among women aged 20 years and above in a rural covered area of SIMS, Hapur, and to assess the risk factors for overweight and obesity in the above study population. Methods: This research was carried out in the rural field practice area of SIMS, Hapur, spanning from July 2022 to July 2023. The study focused on women aged 20 years and older who were residents of the SIMS field practice area. The following criteria were used to select the study participants: Women who were pregnant at the time of the study, those who could not be reached after two home visits, individuals taking chronic medications that might lead to weight gain, and those who were uncooperative were excluded from the study. Results: Out of the 500 participants in the study, 18.6% were categorized as underweight, 53.6% fell within the normal weight range, and 27.8% were considered overweight. Within the group of overweight individuals, a substantial 70.5% were classified as obese. The study revealed that the overall prevalence of overweight (defined as BMI&gt;23) was 27.7%, while the prevalence of obesity (defined as BMI&gt;25) stood at 19.8%. Furthermore, 29.9% of the women had a waist circumference exceeding 80 cm. Conclusion: Based on the findings from our current research, it can be deduced that women with higher levels of education and socioeconomic status, a family history of excess weight, a higher number of pregnancies, a lack of physical activity, insufficient sleep, and poor dietary choices are more likely to be at risk of becoming overweight or obese. To prevent the rising prevalence of excess fat and obesity, it is imperative to implement lifestyle and dietary modifications.

Investigating the Relationship Between Hypertension and Obesity in Schoolchildren From Lower-Middle Socioeconomic Strata in Urban Mumbai.

Background In light of escalating rates of childhood obesity, understanding the gender-specific correlation between body mass index (BMI) and hypertension has become crucial for effective public health interventions. This study investigates the interplay between BMI and hypertension among school-aged children, with a particular emphasis on gender stratification to identify distinct trends. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted with a diverse sample of 702 schoolchildren aged 5-16 years from a lower-middle-income school in urban Mumbai. This cohort consisted of 491 boys and 211 girls within the gender subset. BMI was calculated using height and weight measurements, while blood pressure readings determined hypertension prevalence. The children were categorized based on the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) growth chart BMI calculations and blood pressure percentiles. SPSS Statistics version 23 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used for data analysis. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test, with p-values <0.05 deemed significant. Results The overall prevalence of overweight was 16.52%, with 15.89% in boys and 18.10% in girls, revealing no significant gender difference (p = 0.487). In terms of obesity, the overall prevalence was 10.83%, with 10.99% in boys and 10.34% in girls, revealing no significant gender difference (p = 0.823). The prevalence of pre-hypertension was 7%, exhibiting a significantly higher prevalence in high BMI males (overweight and obese) versus non-high BMI males (normal and underweight) (p < 0.001); however, no such difference was observed in females (p = 0.289). The prevalence of hypertension was 15.95% with a significantly higher prevalence in high BMI males (overweight and obese) versus non-high BMI males (normal and underweight) (p < 0.001) and high BMI females (overweight and obese) versus non-high BMI females (normal and underweight) (p < 0.001). Hypertension was significantly higher in children with high BMI (overweight and obese) compared to their non-high BMI (normal and underweight) counterparts. Conclusions In lower-middle socioeconomic strata schoolchildren in urban Mumbai, the prevalence of obesity and hypertension was alarmingly high, attributed to shifting lifestyles and unhealthy dietary habits. Hypertension rates were notably elevated among overweight and obese individuals compared to normal and underweight individuals. More than a third of both boys and girls with obesity were diagnosed with hypertension, emphasizing a concerning surge in hypertension cases among children. Prioritizing age-specific blood pressure assessments can facilitate early identification and timely interventions.

The overweight epidemic increasingly hits children of lower educated parents in Belgium

Abstract Background Childhood overweight has a negative impact on children's (mental) health. Although the prevalence of overweight among children is high in Western countries, the increasing trend seems to be levelling off since 2000. The purpose of this study is to examine this trend over the past two decades in Belgium and whether this trend differs by the parents’ socioeconomic status (SES). Methods Data from the Belgian Health Interview Survey (HIS), a representative cross-sectional household survey conducted in 1997, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2013 and 2018, was used. Study participants include children aged 2-17 years. The highest educational level among parents is used as a proxy for SES and is dichotomized into lower (at most a higher secondary degree versus high (higher education). Since the BMI (kg/m2) in children is instable, age/sex-specific cutoff points are used to estimate the weighted prevalence (95% confidence interval) of self-reported overweight (including obesity), by SES and year. Significant differences (p&amp;lt;.05) of the association between overweight and SES 1997 is assessed through logistic regression controlled for age and sex using 1997 as reference year. Results The overall prevalence of overweight among children is significantly higher in 2018 (19.0% (16.4-21.6%)) than in 1997 (13.6% (11.2-16.0%)), but no difference compared to the intervening years. Among the lower educated, this prevalence increased from 16.8% (13.2-20.4%) in 1997 to 27.8% (23.3-32.4%) in 2018; and among the high educated from 8.8% (6.0-11.5%) to 12.9% (10.0-15.8%). Compared to 1997, the difference between the low and the high educated increased significantly since 2008. Conclusions Two decades of HIS have shown that the SES is becoming an even more important risk factor for overweight among children. Health promotion on nutrition and physical activity at school has the potential to reach children from all socioeconomic backgrounds, making it an important means of tackling health inequalities. Key messages • Efforts to monitor the evolution of overweight and its determinants among (deprived) children. • Health-promoting schools are a nice initiative to reduce overweight among (deprived) children.

Prevalence and determinants of cardiovascular risk factors in Lesotho: a population-based survey.

There are no recent data on the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (CVDRFs) in Lesotho. This study aims to assess the prevalence of CVDRFs and their determinants. We conducted a household-based, cross-sectional survey among adults ≥18y of age in 120 randomly sampled clusters in two districts. Among 6061 participants, 52.2% were female and their median age was 39y (interquartile range 27-58). The overall prevalence of overweight, diabetes, elevated blood pressure (BP) and tobacco use was 39.9%, 5.3%, 21.6% and 24.9%, respectively. Among participants, 34.6% had none, 45.2% had one and 20.2% had two or more CVDRFs. Women were more likely to have two or more CVDRFs (20.7% vs 12.3%). Overall, 7.5% of participants had elevated total cholesterol, 52.7% had low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and 1.6% had elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Among younger participants (18-29y), 16.1% reported tobacco use, 28.6% were overweight, 1.5% had diabetes and 3.5% had elevated BP. Household wealth positively correlated with the prevalence of elevated BP, overweight and diabetes, whereas tobacco use was higher among people in the lowest three wealth quintiles. CVDRFs are highly prevalent in Lesotho across age and sex groups, underlining the importance of strengthening prevention and care programs in Lesotho and similar settings in southern Africa.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among Iranian population: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Obesity is a major risk factor for chronic diseases. Politicians and practitioners should be aware of the dramatic increase in obesity and its subsequent complications to prevent associated health risks. This systematic review aimed to provide better insight into the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Iranian population. An evaluation was conducted on all published observational studies from both national (SID, Irandoc, Iranmedex) and international (Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Scopus) sources, which reported the prevalence of overweight/obesity among normal population samples, between January 2012 and December 2021. A total of 152 eligible studies were included in this meta-analysis. Of the 152 selected studies, 74 reported the prevalence of overweight/obesity in patients aged ≤ 18years, and 61 studies in adults. In the rest of the articles (17 studies), the results were reported for a combination of these age groups. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Iran was estimated at 20.1 (95% CI 17.92-22.30) and 13.44 (95% CI 11.76-15.22), respectively. This percentage (95% CI) was 11.71 (10.98-12.46) for overweight and 8.08 (7.02-9.22) for obesity in those aged ≤ 18years, and 35.26 (32.61-37.99) for overweight and 21.38 (19.61-23.20) for obesity in those aged > 18years. The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity in the entire population was 35.09% (95% CI 31.31-38.98). As obesity is on the rise in Iran, we should seek both weight loss strategies and ways to control comorbidities associated with high BMI.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity and its epidemiological determinant: a cross sectional study, in Maharashtra, India

Background: India has &gt;135 millions obese individual at present. Overweight and obesity are fifth leading cause of global deaths. This study was undertaken to study prevalence of obesity and overweight and to find out predictors for obesity. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among adult individuals (aged 18-55 years) belonging to Akola district of Maharashtra during July 2022 to December 2022. The study was a hospital based undertaken in the Nutritional OPD under the community medicine department, Government Medical College Akola. Results: Maximum respondent were male 205 (64.5%) Overall prevalence obesity 108 (34%) with maximum number of male 76 (24%) and very less females 32 (10%). However overall prevalence of overweight was 58 (18%) in the study population out of which 44 (13.8%) were male and 14 (4.2%) were females. Prevalence of obesity increases with age, in the present study 19% prevalence were seen in 36-55 years age group. Overall respondents from upper class as per (modified BG Prasad classification) were 153 (48.25%) among which 59 (19%) were more obese as compare upper middle, and middle class. 28 (9%), 10 (1%) respectively. This difference was found statically significant (χ²; p value= 0.01 and 0.002). Conclusions: Suitable health care strategy and intervention programs along with health education is needed to reduce the impact.

PREVALENCE OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY IN EAST KAZAKHSTAN

Objective: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is an increasing public health problem in many developing countries with varying ethnic- and gender specific patterns. Sporadic publications in local literature suggest that the prevalence of overweight in Kazakhstan is also increasing, although most of these studies were small and performed only in large cities (Alma-Ata, Astana) while the information from other parts of the country is scarce. Our aim was to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity across genders and main ethnic groups in three administrative districts in East Kazakhstan. Design and method: Altogether, 1755 adults (59.7% women) aged 18-91 years living in in three administrative districts, i.e. the Maiskii and Lebiazhinskii districts of the Pavlodar region and Glubokovskii district of the East Kazakhstan region participated in a cross-sectional study. The study population was selected based on the automated state medical registry, covering the population exposed to nuclear test fallout. Height and weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The prevalence of overweight (BMI between 25.0 and &lt;30.0 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI more 30.0 kg/m2) was studied across genders and main ethnic groups – Kazakhs, Russians. Results: The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity were 42.3% (95%CI: 41.2-43.5) and 17.4% (95%CI: 16.1-18.4) among men and 43,1% (95%CI: 42.4-43.8) and 23.3% (95%CI: 20.3-26.7) among women. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Kazakhs (41.9%, 95%CI: 40.2-43.6; 18.7%, 95%CI: 17.3-20.0) and among Russians (44.5%, 95%CI: 43.1-45.9; 24.9%, 95%CI: 23.2-25.5). Conclusions: Our results suggest that more than a half of the population of East Kazakhstan is at least overweight and almost every fourth is obese. We have not observed ethnic or gender differences in the studied outcomes.

Association between Acculturation and Obesity among Female Migrants in the United Arab Emirates: A Population-Based Study

Abstract Introduction Emerging evidence suggests that the “healthy migrant effect” may diminish over time with increasing years of residency in the host country. However, few studies have documented the duration of residence associated with the prevalence of obesity among female migrants. This study examined the hypothesis that acculturation is associated with an increased prevalence of obesity among female migrants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Results The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the age of participants was 34.0 ± 9.9 years. The overall prevalence of overweight, obesity, and central adiposity was 30.0, 16.8, and 43.2%, respectively. The prevalence of overweight, obesity, and central adiposity varied across nationalities, with 28.6, 6.9, and 30.3% among Filipinos; 30.1, 37.5, and 66.9% among Arabs; and 33.1, 17.3, and 72.4% among South Asians, respectively. After controlling for age, female migrants with ≥5 years of residence in the UAE were twice as likely to be overweight or obese (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.12 [95%confidence interval (CI): 1.05–4.27]) and having a central adiposity (aOR: 2.05 [95%CI: 1.09–3.84]) as compared with those with fewer years of residence. Female migrants who reported walking for ≤30 min/d were less likely to be overweight or obese (aOR: 0.41 [95%CI: 0.17–0.97]) or exhibit central adiposity (aOR: 0.21 [95%CI: 0.08, 0.59]). Conclusion The findings of the study suggest that duration of residence among female migrants in the UAE is an indicator of acculturation and is associated with unfavorable changes in body composition. Public health programs should focus on promoting healthy lifestyle choices and physical activity among females in the UAE.

Prevalence of and risk factors for overweight among adolescents of a sub-metropolitan city of Nepal.

Overweight is a global public health problem with increasing trend especially in middle to lower socioeconomic country like Nepal. The nutritional status of adolescents being shaped by socio-cultural, environmental, and economic factors has also been impacted by their food habits and level of physical activity. The current nutritional shift and rapid urbanization had emerged overweight as an additional burden for consistently prevalent undernutrition issues. So, the study aimed to identify the prevalence of and risk factors for overweight among school adolescents. A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out among random sample of 279 adolescents from nine schools of a Sub-metropolitan city of Nepal. The anthropometric measurement of the height and the weight were taken as per the standard. The odds ratio with a 95% CI was calculated and a p-value of ≤0.05 was considered as cut off for statistical significance by fitting into the final multivariable logistic regression. The overall prevalence of overweight was obtained as 9.31% (95% CI: 6.40-13.3). The early aged adolescents were more overweight than compared to middle-aged adolescents (AOR: 0.27, CI: 0.028-2.67) and late adolescents (AOR: 0.66, CI: 0.068-6.44) respectively. Similarly, adolescents residing in rural areas had 0.35 (AOR = 0.33, CI: 0.030-3.71) odds of being overweight compared to their counterparts. Adolescents with sedentary behavior were about 4 times (AOR = 3.51, CI: 0.79-15.54) more likely of being overweight than their counterparts. Overweight among adolescents residing in urban areas has emerged as an alarming issue due to their unhealthy lifestyle habits. It is therefore pertinent to emphasize adolescents to maintain healthy weight status through health food habits and physical activity.

The degree of association between overweight and obesity with the use of electronic media among Bangladeshi adolescents.

Electronic media usage is recently considered a modifiable risk factor for overweight and obesity among adolescents. The purpose of this present study was to evaluate the association of electronic media (EM) usage with overweight and obesity among school-going adolescents. This cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2019 among school-going adolescents (14-16 years old) residing in the Jashore Sadar Upazila, Jashore district of Bangladesh. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect information regarding the socio-economic status, time spent watching television, video games playing, computer, and smart mobile phone use through face-to-face interviews. Age- and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) cut-off values for overweight and obesity were determined for Asian adolescents by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). Multinomial logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine the association between electronic media use with overweight and obesity. The findings suggest that the overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was 13.5% and 25.2%, respectively. Among the total adolescent students, about 49.1% highly (above 3 hours per day) spent their time on EM use whereas 30.6% moderately (≥121 to 180 min/day) use EM. The regression analysis showed that spending high time using total screen-based electronic devices, television viewing, video game playing, computer use, and smartphone use were significantly associated with overweight (RRR: 7.36, 95% CI: 3.64-11.54; RRR: 4.58, 95% CI: 1.46-7.95; RRR: 4.45, 95% CI: 2.75-6.12; RRR: 3.18, 95% CI: 1.87-4.70; RRR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.23-3.51) and obesity (RRR: 8.72, 95% CI: 4.64-12.54; RRR: 2.89, 95% CI: 1.31-5.21; RRR: 3.88, 95% CI: 1.74-5.13; RRR: 3.08, 95% CI: 1.32-4.86; RRR: 1.19, 95% CI: 0.93-1.48) in adolescents, respectively. The results support the total time spent using electronic media was associated with an increased risk of being overweight and obesity. Finally, this study strongly suggests the proper use of electronic media may be necessary to reduce the risk of being overweight and obesity in early adolescents.

Trends of socioeconomic inequalities in overweight and obesity in children and adolescents in Germany

Abstract Background Overweight and obesity in early life are risk factors for chronic health conditions in the later life course. Children and adolescents from socioeconomically disadvantaged families are more likely to be overweight or obese than their better-off peers. This study examined post-millennial trends of socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among young people in Germany. Methods Repeated cross-sectional data were used from the German health interview and examination survey for children and adolescents (KiGGS). Overweight and obesity were assessed by body mass index, based on measured height and weight of 3- to 17-year-old participants in KiGGS baseline (2003-06) and KiGGS wave 2 (2014-17). Socioeconomic position (SEP) was measured using a composite index of parental education, occupation and income. The regression-based slope index of inequality (SII) and relative index of inequality (RII) were calculated to estimate the extent of absolute and relative inequalities in the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Results The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity among 3- to 17-year-olds in Germany did not change over time and was recently 15.4% and 5.9%, respectively. In both survey waves, overweight and obesity were more prevalent in lower SEP-groups. From 2003-06 to 2014-17, overweight increased in the low-SES group, whereas it tended to decrease in those with higher SES. This trend was concomitant with increasing socioeconomic inequalities in overweight over the observation period (SII from 0.11 to 0.19, p = 0.054; RII from 2.1 to 3.7, p = 0.021). No such trend was found for obesity. Conclusions Socioeconomic inequalities in overweight have widened among the young in Germany since the early 2000s. Structural interventions that are effective in preventing and reducing overweight in young people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds are still needed. Key messages

Lower fitness levels, higher fat-to-lean mass ratios, and lower cardiorespiratory endurance are more likely to affect the body mass index of Saudi children and adolescents.

BackgroundSeveral studies suggest that health-related physical fitness may play a prominent role in preventing obesity in children and adolescents.ObjectivesThe present study examined fitness levels using five components of health-related fitness in Saudi students aged 10–17 years (fat-to-lean mass ratio, cardiorespiratory endurance, upper body strength and endurance, abdominal muscle strength and endurance, and flexibility). Subsequently, the association between BMI and a health-related fitness index (HR-PFI) based on the five fitness components was investigated.MethodsThe study was conducted on 1,291 students with a mean age of 12.95 ± 1.72 years. Participants included 1,030 boys aged 12.80 ± 1.79 years, with 479 young boys (11.24 ± 0.81b years), and 551 adolescents (14.16 ± 1.21 years). Moreover, the study examined 261 girls averaging 13.54 ± 1.2 years old, with 66 young girls (11.92 ± 0.27 years), and 195 teenage girls (14.09 ± 0.85 years). Each participant's health-related fitness level was assessed by the following tests: Bioelectrical Impedance Analyzer (BIA) for body composition, one-mile run/walk test for cardiorespiratory endurance, curl-up test for abdominal muscle strength and endurance (AMSE), push-up test for upper body strength and endurance (UBSE), and back-saver sit-and-reach test for flexibility.ResultsThe overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was 10.4 and 24.7% in boys and 10 and 8.4% in girls, respectively. The mean Z-scores of performances decreased from the underweight to the obese groups. BMI was positively associated with the ratio of fat mass to lean mass and negatively associated with cardiorespiratory endurance in the overall group of participants as well as in the subgroups by sex and age categories. BMI was also negatively associated with flexibility and HR-PFI in the total group, UBSE, AMSE, and HR-PFI in prepubertal boys, and UBSE in prepubertal girls. The coefficient of determination values was 0.65 in the total group, 0.72 in prepubertal boys, 0.863 in adolescent boys, 0.956 in prepubertal girls, and 0.818 in adolescent girls.ConclusionsOverall health-related physical fitness, fat-to-lean mass ratio, and cardiorespiratory endurance are the factors that most affect BMI in Saudi students aged 10 to 17.

Physical activity across days of week, video games, and laptop use are more likely to influence weight gain among Saudi Youth.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine the extent and prevalence of daily PA and the sedentary behavior during inactive spare-time among young Saudis and their effect on overweight and obesity.MethodsA total of 357 students completed all stages of this study. They included 282 boys aged 11.95 ± 0.73 years (213 children aged 11.62 ± 0.506 years and 69 adolescents aged 13.16 ± 0.373 years) and 75 girls (16 children aged 11.94 ± 0.236 years and 59 adolescents aged 13.47 ± 0.626 years). For each participant, height and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated. A questionnaire asking about daily PA and sedentary habits during the previous 7 days was also used. Multiple comparisons were performed to test for differences between groups by sex and age category, and stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to determine which variables significantly affected BMI.ResultsThe overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was 17.02 and 28.37% in boys and 9.33 and 0% in girls, respectively. The patterns of PA were changing within elements and between sexes. Both groups of boys were more active than girls during breakfast and lunch periods (p < 0.001 for all). A significant difference in favor of boys was also observed between the two groups of boys and the group of adolescent girls regarding after-school physical activity (p < 0.05 for all). Prepubescent boys reported being generally less active during the previous 7 days than their female counterparts and adolescent peers. Sedentary behaviors did not differ between all groups. Playing video games and using laptops were the parameters significantly associated with BMI.ConclusionsThis study noted that the prevalence of overweight and obesity was more pronounced in boys than in girls. However, boys were more active but had the same degree of sedentary behavior as girls. Physical activity across the days of weekly, video games, and laptop use were the parameters that most affected BMI.

The association of cannabis use with fast-food consumption, overweight, and obesity among adolescents aged 12-15 years from 28 countries

ABSTRACT Background Cannabis legalization and use have risen globally. However, the association between cannabis use, eating behaviors and body weight among adolescents is yet unexplored. Objectives This study examined the association between cannabis use, fast-food consumption, overweight and obesity in 28 countries using data from the 2010–2016 Global School-Based Student Health Survey. Methods Multivariable logistic regression and meta-analysis were performed among a sample of 83,726 adolescents (48.7% females) aged 12–15 years, mean (SD) age of 13.8 (0.9) years. Results The overall prevalence of cannabis use (in past 30 days) and fast-food consumption (in past 7 days) were 2.8% and 57.3% respectively. The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was 14.7% and 4.2%, respectively. Cannabis use was significantly associated with fast-food consumption (OR = 1.33; 95%CI = 1.13–1.57) but not with overweight (OR = 0.95; 95%CI = 0.80–1.14) or obesity (OR = 1.16; 95%CI = 0.85–1.59). For obesity, there was a moderate level of between-country heterogeneity (I2 = 51.9%) and significant positive associations with cannabis use were observed in Bahamas, Bangladesh, Namibia and Nepal. Conclusion The results highlight the association between cannabis use and dietary risks, providing evidence for public health interventions on the interrelated nature of cannabis use and fast-food consumption.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among saudi children: A comparison of two widely used international standards and the national growth references.

ObjectiveTo compare three body mass index (BMI) classifications that are used to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Saudi children aged 6–13 years: the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) age and gender cutoffs, the World Health Organization (WHO) growth references for school-aged children, and the Saudi (KSA) national growth references.MethodsThe sample comprised 2,169 children (52.5% girls) derived from two cross-sectional studies conducted in Riyadh and Jeddah during the 2017 and 2019 school years, respectively. Body weight and height were measured, and BMI was calculated.ResultsThe proportions (%) of the participants who were classified as underweight, overweight, and obese varied according to the reference used: IOTF reference (13.8, 18.4, and 12.7), WHO reference (17.2, 19.1, and 18.9), and KSA reference (7.0, 22.4, and 9.3), respectively, indicating higher values for overweight and obesity prevalence when the WHO references were used. Kappa agreement measures between the three references were found to be high, with the coefficients ranging from 0.936 (between the IOTF and KSA references) to 0.849 (between the IOTF and WHO references). In all three classifications, girls exhibited lower overweight or obesity prevalence than boys. Family income, but not paternal or maternal education, was significantly (p = 0.015) associated with overweight/obesity when using the IOTF standards. In addition, having a small family in the house was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with obesity, irrespective of the classification system.ConclusionInconsistency was observed when estimating the prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity among Saudi children. However, when defining the overall prevalence of overweight plus obesity among Saudi children, the IOTF classification system performed in a similar way to the KSA references (31.1% versus 31.7%) compared to the WHO references (38.0%).

Nutritional Status of Children Under Two Years of Age in the Devbhumi Dwarka District, Gujarat: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Improvements in the analysis of child nutrition status can be helpful in increasing the understanding of the magnitude and critical causes of undernutrition. The present study aimed to assess the nutritional status and related factors in children under two years of age in the Devbhumi Dwarka District of Gujarat, India. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted for which the sample size was calculated using Open Epi and considering a 20% non-response rate. The sample size for the study was 1200, but the achieved sample size was 1301. Statistical analysis was performed to identify significant determinants of under-nutrition separately for stunting, wasting, and underweight. The prevalence of wasting, underweight, and stunting was 14%, 17%, and 32%, respectively. Prevalence of low birth weight was recorded as 14% in the district. The overall prevalence of overweight was 20% and 6% as per weight for height and weight for age criteria, respectively. The proportion of children with exclusive breastfeeding was observed to be decreasing with increasing age from birth to six months. About 70% of children were exclusively breastfed at the age of six months. Chi-square analyses revealed that parity and spacing are significant determinants of under-nutrition in children under two years in the Devbhumi Dwarka District. A multipronged and convergence approach is needed to combat the menace of child malnutrition.

Physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and breakfast eating as factors influencing BMI in Saudi students, aged 10 to 15 years

Background Eating less and moving more are the simplest and most common strategies to combat excessive weight. Several other lifestyle factors can also contribute to maintaining a healthy weight. Objectives The present study examined the effects of breakfast frequency, duration and quality of sleep, daily physical activity, sedentary behaviours, and school transportation on the BMI of Saudi students, aged 10–15 years. Materials and Methods This study included 981 students (240 girls (24.46%) [66 children (27.5%) and 174 adolescents (72.5%)] and 741 boys (75.54%) [441 children (59.51%) and 300 adolescents (40.49%)]). For each participant, height, weight, and body composition were obtained using bioelectric impedance analysis. A questionnaire focussing on lifestyle behaviours over the last seven days was also completed by each student. Multiple comparisons were performed to test for significant differences between the groups, stratified by sex, age, and BMI. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to determine the variables that significantly affected BMI. Results The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity in boys was 12.82% and 25.1%, and in girls, 10.42% and 5.42%, respectively. Most participants used cars or buses as transportation to and from school (100% of girls and 83% of boys). Breakfast was skipped mainly by male participants. Boys tended to sleep more than girls during school days (488.90 ± 74.33 vs. 467.76 ± 78.75 min. night−1). They were more active (2.58 ± 0.69 vs. 2.34 ± 0.82), used laptops more frequently (2.46 ± 1.51 vs. 1.90 ± 1.63), and played more video games (3.12 ± 1.43 vs. 1.2875 ± 1.36) than girls. However, girls were less sedentary (2.63 ± 0.76 vs. 2.9±.79), watched more TV (3.65 ± 1.155 vs. 2.73 ± 1.48) and used their smartphones more (3.6625 ± 1.3 vs. 3.28 ± 1.44) than boys. Conclusions This study revealed significant associations between BMI and breakfast intake, physical activities, and sedentary behaviours. Of these, using laptops and playing video games were the key sedentary activities that influenced BMI. Key messages A significantly higher prevalence of overweight and obesity was noted among boys compared to girls in private school students, aged 10–15 years, in Al-Ahsa governorate, Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Boys slept more than girls on school days, and they were more active, used laptops more frequently, and played more video games than girls. Girls were less sedentary, watched television more often, and used smartphones more frequently than boys. Among private school students aged 10–15 years in Al-Ahsa governorate, Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, BMI was significantly associated with breakfast intake frequency, physical activity, and sedentary behaviours, among which using laptops and playing video games were the sedentary activities that most influenced BMI.

Trends of overweight and obesity among preschool children from 2013 to 2018: a cross-sectional study in Rhine-Neckar County and the City of Heidelberg, Germany

BackgroundEarly childhood overweight and obesity is a growing public health concern worldwide. Few recent studies have addressed how time trends varied by sociodemographic characteristics at the regional level using large and high-quality data. This study determines how time trends vary in the prevalence of early childhood overweight and obesity by age, gender, and migration background at the regional level.MethodsWe used a Kernel-density curve to describe the BMI distribution, and evaluated the trends of overweight and obesity by age, gender, and migration background using logistic regression.ResultsMean BMI and the overall prevalence of overweight and obesity increased among preschool children aged 4–6 years in the Rhine-Neckar County and the City of Heidelberg. After adjusting for age, sex, and migration background, trends of overweight significantly increased only among male children in the age 5 year group with migration background (P < 0.05), and an upward trend of obesity was observed only among male children in the age 5 year group and female children in the age 6 year group with migration background (P < 0.05).ConclusionsBMI distribution as well as general prevalence of overweight and obesity are still increasing among preschool children. Children with migration backgrounds, particularly male children in the age 5 year groups and female children in the age 6 year group should be prioritized. Health promotion strategies for children with migration backgrounds will help address this challenge.