Aetiological factors of obesity in children

A survey was carried out of the prevalence of obesity in 7600 schoolchildren aged 11-16 years in Cairo. Weight, height and skinfold thicknesses were measured and the children classified as underweight, normal or overweight. Overweight children were further screened for obesity, a triceps skinfold thickness of greater than 18 mm for boys and greater than 25 mm for girls being taken as the lower level of obesity. Age at menarche, birth order, social class, obesity in other members of the family, food habits and dietary intakes were all studied. The prevalence of obesity in Egyptian children was comparable to that in the US. The study emphasizes the importance of social and cultural influences in the development of obesity in Egyptian children.