Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: February | Volume: 7 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 168-172
Prevalence of Childhood Obesity and Overweight in Urban Adolescent Schools Children: A Prospective Study
Vipul Dutt1, Neha Joshi2, Maj Manoj Kumar3
1Senior Advisor Community Medicine, Chandigarh
2DNB Community Medicine, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
3DGO, DNB Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
Corresponding Author: Neha Joshi
ABSTRACT
Background: Childhood obesity is a growing healthcare burden in India and other developing countries. Causes of overweight and obesity are attributed to various socio-economical and environmental factors that influence the food habit and physical activities. Obesity is more prevalent among the rich children of urban area than the rural setting.
Aims and Objectives: To find out the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the school going children.
Material and Methods: Present single centre cross sectional study was performed on 396 children of age 12 to 14 years at one school in January 2019. To capture the demographic and lifestyle data a pre-designed questionnaire was used. Collected data was statistical analyzed using SPSS ver. 20 software. Level of significance was assessed at 5%.
Results: Prevalence of overweight and obesity was 8% and 5% respectively. We observed that the obesity was more prevalent among girls. Fast food was the major cause for obesity and lack of physical activity makes it sever.
Conclusions: Observations of this study shows that overall 13% children were overweight and obese. This study suggest that the physical activities, games, health education and awareness programs should be included in the education system for students, teachers to fight and control the obesity and overweight.
Keywords: life style modification, urban children, health education
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