Obesity amongst affluent adolescent girls

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Public Health Nutrition
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a growing global health issue.
• Understanding obesity prevalence in specific demographics is crucial for targeted interventions.
• Affluent populations may have unique risk factors and dietary patterns contributing to obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and types of obesity among affluent schoolgirls in Delhi.
• To identify the proportion of central obesity within this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 414 schoolgirls aged 16-17 in Delhi.
• Measurements included weight, height, waist circumference, and hip circumference.
• Obesity and overweight were classified using International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) criteria; central obesity was defined by waist circumference or waist-hip ratio.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of obesity was 5.3% and overweight was 15.2% according to IOTF criteria.
• Among obese girls, 95.4% had central obesity based on waist circumference (>80 cm).
• 54.5% of obese girls had central obesity based on waist-hip ratio (>0.85).

Conclusions:

• A significant prevalence of obesity exists in affluent schoolgirls in Delhi.
• Central obesity is highly prevalent, affecting more than half of obese girls in this cohort.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted obesity prevention and management strategies in this population.