A Study of Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity AmongHigh School Students in a Private School in Gulbarga

Over the last decades pediatric obesity has become global epidemic with an estimate of 45 million children and adolescent being affected and this is exponentially increasing. Obesity is leading to a significant mortality and morbidity. Aims and Objective: 1 . To determines the prevalence of overweight and obesity among high school students. 2. To assesses the risk factors associated with Overweight and Obesity in them. 3. To suggest interventional strategies for prevention and control of overweight and obesity. Design: A cross sectional study was conducted among 1315years high school students. Parameters of height, weight were measured and recorded following the completion of a questionnaire and the results were compared against the body mass index for age percentiles of both sexes. Result: Prevalence of overweight and obesity were high among the school children and need to be addressed by primary and secondary methods of prevention. BMR Pharmacology & Toxicology Research www.bmrjournals.com 2 BMR Journals| bmrjournals.com children and about one-half of obese school age children become obese adults.3 The environmental features of modern lifestyles that contribute to the increasing prevalence of obesity include wide availability of food that is energy dense, palatable and inexpensive, combined with increasing sedentary pursuits like TV watching, video games, internet and mobile usage, Obesogenic schools and Tution classes which focus on academic pursuit at the cost of physical activity sessions.5 Owing to the complex interplay of etiological factors like genetic, environment and human behavior and lack of clear comprehension of this is making the prevention and management of childhood obesity challenging. The most effacious and reliable way to prevent and treat this disease and its co morbidities is a healthy , balance lifestyle with realistic diet plan and exercise regimen. Exact data on prevalence of childhood obesity in different parts of our country (India) are unavailable in spite of some sporadic studies on obesity indicating that the problem is quite alarming in the developing countries. It is the times to act now if the deleterious effects of obesity are to be avoided. Hence a modest attempt is being made in Gulbarga city to find out the prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in School children aged between 13-15 years. Material and Methods The present study is a Cross sectional study undertaken to know the prevalence and also to find out the various risk factors associated with Overweight and Obesity among 13-15 years studying in Chandrakant Patil English Memorial School, Gulbarga. The present study was carried out in 150 students studying in 8th to 10th class. A predesigned, pretested questionnaire proforma was administered to each child to collect data on sociodemographic profile (age, sex, religion, dietary pattern, physical activity level, T.V watching etc.) Parameters of height and weight were measured and recorded following completion of the questionnaire. The height was measured using sliding stadiometer with an accuracy of 0.1mm. Weight was recorded using spring balance (bathroom scale) calibrated to 0.5 kg accuracy. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated based on the formulaBMI = Weight (Kg) Height (m2) The results were compared against the body mass index for age percentiles of both sexes (body mass index percentile charts) developed by National Institute of nutrition. Data Analysis: The statistical tests used are percentages and chi-square test. The statistical software SPSS 12 was used for the analysis of the data and Microsoft word and Microsoft Excel have been used to generate graph, tables etc Weight Status Category Percentile Range Underweight Less than the 5th percentile Healthy weight 5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile Overweight 85th to less than the 95th percentile Obese Equal to or greater than the 95th percentile BMR Pharmacology & Toxicology Research www.bmrjournals.com 3 BMR Journals| bmrjournals.com Results: Out of 150 students, 88 (58.67%) were boys and 62 (41.33%) girls. 34 (22.67%) students were 13 years old. 62 (41.33%) were 14 years old and 54 (36%) were 15 years old. TABLE 1: Classification Based on BMI Classification No of students Percentage 1.Underweight 13 8.66 2. Normal weight 117 78 3.Overweight 15 10 4.Obesity 5 3.34 Total 150 100.0