Overweight and Obesity among the Adolescent School Students in Belgaum City

The World Health Organization defines obesity as a 'global epidemic'. An overweight adolescent has a 70% chance of becoming obese. Overweight and obese adolescents are at higher risk for developing long-term chronic diseases. So the present study objective is to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescent school students

A sample size of 300 adolescent students was taken to do a cross-sectional study. Body weight and height were recorded and body mass index was categorized based on age-and sex-specific cut-off values as per International Obesity Task Force reference growth charts. Proportions of obese, overweight and underweight children were calculated and subjected to chi-square and logistic regression tests at the p < 0.05 significance level.

The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity in the present study were 12% and 3.3% respectively. The highest prevalence was among those aged 15 years i.e. 36.7%. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher among the subject who did not practice physical activity and whose family income was more than 10,000 per month.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents student in Belgaum city was high which is statistically associated with less physically activity and monthly income of parent.