Acta Scientific Paediatrics

Research Article Volume 3 Issue 1

Prevalence of Obesity and its Risk Factors in Children: A Small Hospital based Study

Richa Sharma*

Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, SLBS GMC, India

*Corresponding Author: Richa Sharma, Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, SLBS GMC, India.

Received: November 18, 2019; Published: December 06, 2019

Citation: Richa Sharma. “Prevalence of Obesity and its Risk Factors in Children: A Small Hospital based Study”. Acta Scientific Paediatrics 3.1 (2020):02-05.

Abstract

There has been a rapid upsurge in childhood obesity for the past few decades. Approximately 17% of children are obese worldwide. Its amongst the easiest medical conditions to recognise yet one the most difficult to treat. As it requires long term lifestyle modifications. Aim of this study was to see the prevalence of obesity and factors contributing to it amongst adolescent children between the of age of 11 to 16 years. 200 adolescent children were selected from the out patient department of the SLBSGMC. Questions were asked to them which comprised of features like daily physical activity, screen time, frequency of consumption of junk food, pattern of eating, etc. Height was measured on stado meter and weight on weighing scale respectively. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS 16 and MS excel. Among them 56.5% were boys. 65% students were of 13 to 14 years of age. As per body mass index, 42.5% children were under weight and 15% were obese and overweight. 73% of the children were having junk food more than once in a week.

Keywords: Obesity; Children; Junk Food

Introduction

Obesity is seen as the new wave of non-communicable diseases called "New World Syndrome. Burden of obesity has risen tremendously over the past few decades. And has become an endemic in many parts of the world. Obesity is today’s most apparently visible, yet most neglected public health problems [2]. In 2014, 39% of adults were found to be overweight and 13% were obese [3]. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4). BMI≥25 among female is 20.7 and in male is 18.6%, respectively [4]. The worldwide prevalence of childhood obesity increased from 4.2% in 1990 to 6.7% in 2010. And is expected to reach 9.1% in 2020 [5]. There has been a consistent rise in childhood obesity since 1971 in developed countries and now its prevalence is increasing in developing countries as well. Changes in lifestyle, less physical activity and decreased exercise, wrong eating habits and less of out door activities have become a major health hazard of children. Body mass index (BMI) is a very simple yet reliable index to identify obesity [3]. Body mass index (BMI) is a measurement of weight against height [8]. Amongst Asians BMI is equal to or greater than 23 as overweight and equal to or greater than 25 as obesity [3].

Material and Methods

Objectives

To know the prevalence of obesity and factors contributing to it amongst children of 11 to 16 years of age.

Inclusion criteria

Children of 11 to 16 years of age group were included.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria was children with disability were excluded; study subjects who will not be giving consent to participate; were also included.

Methods of data collection

After getting written consent from the subject, a pretested questionnaire was asked. Questionnaire included their general information and factors which are contributing to obesity. Weight and height of the subject were taken and body mass index (BMI) was calculated.All subjects from the selected age group were interviewed. Each interview was done for 15 minutes. Questions were asked regarding pattern of eating, screen time, dietary pattern and frequency of intake of junk food.

Data analysis

Data was entered into Microsoft excel sheet and analysed using SPSS 20 software. Descriptive statistics like frequency, percentages, and inferential statistical tests like chi-square analysis were used

Results

In this study, 200 children, aged between 11 to 16 years were interviewed. Amongst them 113 (56.5%) were boys and 87(43.5%) were girls (Table 1). 131 (65.5%) students were between 13 to 14 years of age. As per body mass index, 85 (42.5%) of children were underweight, 85 (42.5%) were of normal weight, 15 (7.5%) were overweight and 15 (7.5%) were obese. 110 (55%) participants had meals 3 times in a day. Among students 41% were non vegetarian (Table 3). Children who were interviewed 138 (69%) were spending their time on mobile/TV/laptop for more than 4hrs in a day.

Table 1: Distribution of students according to sex and age.

Table 1: Distribution of students according to sex and age.

Table 2: Age group wise distribution of boys and girls according to body mass index.

Table 2: Age group wise distribution of boys and girls according to body mass index.

In above table, 85(42.5%) students are underweight, of them 11 were of 11 to 12 years of age and 3 were boys and 8 were girls. In the age group 13 to 14 years 51 of them were underweight, and amongst them 28 were boys and 23 were girls. 23 students who were from 15 to 16 years of age were underweight, amongst them 18 were boys and 5 were girls. About 15 (7.5%) participants were overweight, and of them 4 were from 15 to 16 years of age group and 2 each were boys and girls respectively. Also, total 15 (7.5%) subjects were obese, among them 11were from 13 to 14 years of age group and 7 were boys and 4 were girls.

Table 3 shows, children who were taking meals for two times in a day were 80 (40%). Whereas 100 (50%) of them were taking three meals in a day. 20 (10%) students were eating meals for more than 3 times in a day. Also, it is observed that 118 (59%) were vegetarian and rest 82 (41%) were non vegetarian.

Table 3: Dietary habits.

Table 3: Dietary habits.

In Table 4, children who were spending time on mobile/TV/laptop for more than 4hrs in a day were 138 (69%) and remaining 62 (31%) children spent less than 4 hrs a day.

Table 4: Frequency of students spend time on mobile/TV/laptop.

Table 4: Frequency of students spend time on mobile/TV/laptop.

Table 5 shows, Children who were taking junk food everyday were 9(4.5%). Whereas 146 (73%) of them were eating it more than once in a week and 32(16%) of them were eating junk food once in a week. 13 (6.5%) were eating junk food occasionally.

Table 5: Frequency of junk food eating.

Table 5: Frequency of junk food eating.

Discussion

In South Karnataka, similar studies were conducted on adolescent children, and was observed that 51.2% participants were boys [5]. The prevalence of overweight among adolescents was 9.9% and obesity was 4.8%. The risk of overweight was higher in those who had history screen time for ≥4 -6 hours/day. In another similar study done in India total of 1208 adolescents (48.5% boys) in the age group of 12 to 17 years of age, with a mean age of 14.5 years, were studied. 22% of adolescents preferred to consume junk foods. In present study, 56.5% were boys and 43.5% were girls and of them 65% of children were of 13 to 14 years of age group. As per body mass index, 42.5% children were underweight, 42.5% of normal weight, 7.5% amongst them were overweight and 7.5% were found obese. Among participants 41% were non vegetarian and 59% had vegetarian food. 69% of the Children were spending their time onscreen watching for more than 4 hrs per day and 73% of the children were found eating junk food more than once in a week [1,6-22].

Conclusion

The prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be 7.5% each respectively. Among study participants 69% children spend big portion of their time in screen watching. Frequency of eating junk food more than once in a week was found in about 73% of the children. All these parameters point towards two major contributors of obesity and need for lifestyle modifications. Awareness amongst parents on obesity and its complications is need of the hour, and routine screening for obesity on OPD basis by healthcare professionals should be done. Inculcating good habits like healthybalanced diet, daily physical activity, can be included in school curriculums as well.

Bibliography

  1. Ng M., et al. “Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013”. Lancet 384 (2014): 766-781.
  2. World Health Organization. “Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic”. Technical Report Series No 894, Geneva: WHO (2000).
  3. World Health Organization. “Obesity and overweight”. Fact sheet (2018).
  4. Fact Sheet. 2015-16.
  5. Mercedes de Onis., et al. “Global prevalence and trends of overweight and obesity among preschool children”. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 92 (2010): 1257-1264.
  6. Livingstone MB. “Childhood obesity in Europe: A Growing Concern”. Public Health Nutrition 4 (2001): 109-116.
  7. World Health Organization. Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. “Childhood overweight and obesity”.
  8. Must A and Anderson SE. “Body mass index in children and adolescents: considerations for population based applications”. International Journal of Obesity 30 (2006): 590-594.
  9. Karnik S and Kanekar A. “Childhood Obesity: A Global Public Health Crisis”. International Journal of Preventive Medicine 3 (2012): 1-7.
  10. Zdziarski LA., et al. “Chronic pain management in the obese patient: a focused review of key challenges and potential exercise solutions”. Journal of Pain Research 8 (2015): 63-77.
  11. Goldfield GS., et al. “Body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint, depression, and weight status in adolescents”. Journal of School Health80 (2010): 186-192.
  12. Goyal RK., et al. “Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Indian adolescent school going children: its relationship with socioeconomic status and associated lifestyle factors. Maharashtra Chapter of Association of Physician of India”. JAPI 58 (2010): 151-158.
  13. Soniya V., et al. “Prevalence and epidemiology of overweight and obesity among upper primary school children in Latur city”. Medpulse-International Medical Journal1 (2014): 1519.
  14. Asha B., et al. “A study of correlates of overweight/ obesity among high school children of Mandya city, Karnataka”. International Journal of Current Research 1 (2015): 11594-11598.
  15. Thippeswamy HM., et al. “Relationship between body mass index and dental caries among adolescent children in south India”. West Indian Medical Journal5 (2011): 581-586.
  16. Pangani IN., et al. “Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among Primary School Children Aged 8–13 Years in Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania”. Hindawi Publishing Corporation Advance Prevention Medicine (2016): 1-5.
  17. Desalew A., et al. “Childhood overweight, obesity and associated factors among primary school children in dire dawa, eastern Ethiopia a cross-sectional study”. BMC Obesity20 (2017): 1-10.
  18. Mahajan A and Negi PC. “Prevalence of overweight and obesity in urban school going adolescents in shimla city”. International Journal of Nutrition, Pharmacology Neurological Disease 1 (2014): 23-28.
  19. Khot SP and Vairagad UK. “Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among School Children in Aurangabad City, Maharashtra, India”. International Journal of Current Medical and Applied Sciences 2 (2015): 51-55.
  20. Vaida N. “Prevalence of obesity among children studying in government and private schools in district Anantnag age group (6-12 years)”. IOSR Journal of Pharmacy1 (2013): 0411.
  21. Kavita HS and Ashok NC. “Prevalence of Obesity among Primary school children and its Association with Parental obesity and Socio-economic status”. Medica Innovatica1 (2013): 2631.
  22. Ramesh K. “Prevalence of overweight and obesity among high school students of Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation, Kerala, India”. Australasian Medical Journal10 (2010): 65061.

Copyright: © 2020 Richa Sharma. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.


Contact US









ff

© 2024 Acta Scientific, All rights reserved.