Prevalence of overweight and obesity and factors affecting it in affluent adolescents of Raichur city

Authors

  • Niranjan N Department of Pediatrics, Sardar Patel Medical College and Hospitals, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
  • Sagar Hiremath Department of Pediatrics, Raichur Medical College and Hospital, Karnataka, India
  • Akhil Kapoor Department of Oncology, Acharya Tulsi Regional Cancer Treatment & Research Institute, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
  • Pramod Kumar Berwal Department of Pediatrics, Sardar Patel Medical College and Hospitals, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India

Keywords:

Obesity, Overweight, Body mass index, Raichur city

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity is associated with increased incidence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart diseases, osteoarthritis and overall increase in morbidity and mortality in adult life. Most of the studies have been done in metropolitan cities of India. This study aims to assess the prevalence of obesity and overweight and to identify the factors influencing adolescent obesity in a smaller district like Raichur, situated in the North-Eastern part of Karnataka.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among 984 students aged 10-16 years from 3 schools which cater the well-to-do of Raichur city. Their BMI was calculated and determined as to whether they were obese or overweight. The students were given questionnaire to collect data about type of diet, intake of junk foods, number of hours of sleep, daily exercise, TV viewing and knowledge about obesity and its effects.

Results: The prevalence of obesity and overweight was found to be 4.6% and 11.3% respectively and was found to be higher in girls (6% & 12% respectively) than boys (3.6% & 10.8% respectively). Daily exercise, intake of junk food and duration of sleep of more than 8 hours were found to be significant factors influencing adolescent obesity.

Conclusions: Prevalence of adolescent obesity is an emerging problem of not only Metropolitan cities, but also that of small towns and districts like Raichur. Steps need to be taken to prevent obesity at the onset itself by daily exercise, increasing physical activity, reducing intake of junk foods etc. Further studies are required to elucidate the factors influencing adolescent obesity. 

References

Barlow SE, the Expert Committee. Expert committee recommendations regarding the prevention, assessment, and treatment of child and adolescent overweight and obesity: summary report. Pediatrics. 2007 Dec;120(Suppl):S164-92.

Kliegman M, Stanton F, Geme ST, Schor Behrman. Obesity. In: Kliegman M, Stanton F, Geme ST, Schor Behrman, eds. Nelson Text Book of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders; 2011: 179.

Kumar S, Mahabalraju DK, Anuroopa MS. Prevalence of obesity and its influencing factors among affluent school children of Davangere city. Indian J Community Paediatrics. 2007;32:1-3.

Subramanyam V, Jayashree R, Rafi Moh. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in affluent adolescent girls in Chennai in 1981 and 1998. Indian Paediatrics. 2003;40:332-6.

Marie NG, Tom Fleming BS, Margaret Robinson BA, Blake Thomson BA, Nicholas Graetz BS, Christopher Margono BS, 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. 2014;384(9945):766-81.

Kapil U, Singh P, Pathak P, Dwivedi S, Bhasin S. Prevalence of obesity amongst affluent adolescent school children in Delhi. Indian Paediatrics. 2002;39:449-52.

Monga S. Obesity among school children (7-9 years old) in India, prevalence and related factors. In: Monga S, eds. The 132nd Annual Meeting. Washington, DC: APHA; 6-10 November 2004.

Bhave S, Bavdekar A, Otiv M. IAP National task force for childhood prevention of adult diseases: childhood obesity. Indian Paediatrics. 2004;41:559-75.

Coli TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH. Establishing standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. Br Med J. 2000;320:1240-55.

Kasmini K, Idris MN, Fatimah A, Hasafiah S, Iran H, Asmah MN. Prevalence of overweight and obese school children aged between 7-16 years amongst the three ethnic groups in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Asia-Pac J Clin Nutr. 1997;6:172-4.

Agarwal KN, Saxena A, Bansal AK, Agarwal DK. Physical growth assessment in adolescence. Indian Paediatrics. 2001;38:1217-35.

Thomas N. Robinson. Television viewing and childhood obesity. Paediatr Clin North Am. 2001;48:1017-25.

Downloads

Published

2017-02-07

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles