TITLE:
Prevalence and Correlates of Overweight and Obesity among School Children in Sohag, Egypt
AUTHORS:
Soumaya El Sayed Ahmed Hadhood, Rasha Abd Elhameed Ali, Montaser Mohamed Mohamed, Eman Soliman Mohammed
KEYWORDS:
Childhood Overweight and Obesity
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Gastroenterology,
Vol.7 No.2,
February
20,
2017
ABSTRACT: Background: Continually rising prevalence of obesity and overweight in children
and adolescents is a major public health concern. This is due to its various and
serious health hazards on one side and its preventable nature on the other side.
This study aims at identification of prevalence of overweight and obesity and its
risk factors among children between 6 - 14 years of age in Sohag, Egypt. Method:
A cross sectional study was conducted on 711 school children between 6 - 14 years
in four months’ period from February to May 2016. Weight and height of the studied
children were measured to calculate BMI, which was compared with standard Egyptian
growth charts for determining overweight and obesity. Then a questionnaire containing
data about socio demographic, parental obesity, early life and dietary risk factors
was completed by the children’s parents. Result: Out of 711 studied children, 117
(16.5%) were overweight and 104 (14.6%) were obese. Residing in urban area, having
an obese parent or both of them, low level of maternal education, being on formula
feeding during early life and lack of fresh vegetables and fruits in diets were
significant risk factors for overweight and obesity in the studied children (P value