SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE AND DIETRY FACTORS LEADING TO CHILDHOOD OBESITY AMONG CHILDREN 5-19 YEARS
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The prevalence of obesity is increasing throughout the world at an unprecedented rate. In developing countries, obesity has also been linked to extreme and rapid changes in lifestyle including urbanization and rapid economic development. Childhood obesity most likely results from an interaction of nutritional, psychological, fam ilial and physiological factors.
OBJECTIVE To determine the lifestyle and dietry factors leading to childhood obesity among children (5- 19years) of district Peshawar.
METHODOLOGY A descriptive study with sample size of 293 children conducted over a period of three months in private sector schools of Peshawar. Children included in the study were healthy with no reported chronic illness. Body weight was measured in minimal clothing using a weight scale; body height was measured using a stadio meter. Obesity, underweight and overweight were defined by plotting BMI against age (in months and years) on WHO BMI-for-age (5–19 years percentiles) charts.
RESULTS Out of 293 children 10.6% were obese (more than 97 thPercentile) while 24.2% were overweight (85 th–97 th percentile). Among obese children 72.3% were found to watch TV for 1-2 hours daily while 21.0% watch TV for 3–4 hours. 51.6% of obese children did not participate in any field sports while 32.3% have less than 3 hours participation in field sports.
CONCLUSION This study shows that high prevalence of obesity and overweight among children in private schools has direct relationship with decreased physical activity and other factors like watching TV, role of media and lack of diet control by parents.
KEY WORDS obesity, children, school age, parents, physical activities.
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