Background: Childhood overweight and obesity is one of the major public health problems globally. Obesity has been declared an epidemic in many high income countries. Childhood obesity has become an emerging urban health problem in urban cities in Bangladesh.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore the overall pictures of body weight status in school going children.

Methodology: This cross-section study was done in July 2018 to December 2018 at Gazi medical college hospital OPD, attaining 5 years to 15 years aged school going children. Structured questionnaire was filled up by the health personnel after taking anthropometric measurements in a standardized way by weight machine and measuring tape.

Results: Of 250 students 140 (56%) boys and 110 (44%) girls. Among them 16% of the students were found to be obese and 22% were overweight by their BMI percentile score. Among boys 22.85% were obese and for the girls it was 7.27%. Of boys 25% were overweight and for girls it was 18.18%. Boys are more obese and overweight than girls.

Conclusion: The rate of overweight and obesity is alarming among school aged urban children of Bangladesh. Public health programs are needed to increase awareness on risk factors for overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in order to reduce the future burden of obesity related morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: Obesity & overweight, School going children, BMI percentiles.

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Dr Amirul Islam

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