Title: Prevalence and Risk Factors of Obesity and Overweight in Urban School Children of Age 6 to 12 Years in Kerala
Authors: Ajithkrishnan.A.S, Anjali Devi. B, Shaji Arakkal
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i2.27
Abstract
Introduction: Obesity in childhood is a multi-system disease with potentially devastating consequences. There has also been a trend towards increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity as well as metabolic complications in developing countries.
Methods: A cross sectional survey was done in school children of 6 to 12 years age group in Thiruvananth-apuram city of Kerala to know the prevalence of obesity, overweight and associated risk factors.
Results: In the study population, the prevalence of obesity (>95th percentile of BMI) was 3.2% and prevalence of overweight (≥85th percentile of BMI) was 8.6%.Prevalence of hypertension and prehyperte-nsion were 3.9% and 6.4% respectively. There was an increased prevalence of obesity and overweight in children with daily exercise less than 1 hour, TV watching more than 1 hour daily, and family history of obesity. The association with family income was not significant.
Conclusions: Obesity and overweight is a problem in urban school children of 6 to 12 years and lifestyle modification may help in the control.
Keywords: childhood obesity, overweight, risk factors, Kerala.
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