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Obesity among Elementary Schoolchildren: A Growing Concern in the North of Iran, 2012

Reza Ghadimi1, Elmira Asgharzadeh2, Parvin Sajjadi1

  • 1Social Determinant of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol, Iran ; Department of Social Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.

International Journal of Preventive Medicine
|November 26, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Childhood obesity is a growing concern. This study found high rates of overweight and obesity in elementary schoolchildren, particularly among boys and urban students, highlighting the need for intervention programs.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Nutrition Science

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a global health issue affecting both developed and developing nations.
  • Assessing nutritional status in schoolchildren is crucial for early detection and intervention.
  • Anthropometric indices provide key indicators for evaluating child growth and nutritional status.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the nutritional status of elementary schoolchildren using anthropometric indices.
  • To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a primary school population.
  • To identify demographic factors associated with childhood obesity.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 3647 children aged 7-11 years in Babol.
  • Cluster random sampling was employed for participant selection.
  • Anthropometric measurements were assessed against Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth standards.

Main Results:

  • Overweight and obesity were prevalent, with 26.1% of children exceeding the 85th percentile for Body Mass Index (BMI).
  • Obesity rates were significantly higher in boys compared to girls (P = 0.007).
  • Urban children and those in private schools showed a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity (P = 0.0001).

Conclusions:

  • The study identified a significant prevalence of overweight and obesity among elementary schoolchildren.
  • Intervention strategies are recommended to combat the rising rates of childhood overweight and obesity.
  • Targeted public health initiatives may be necessary for specific demographic groups.
Abstract

Keywords:
Body mass indexobesityoverweightschoolchildren

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