Prevalence of overweight and obesity among preparatory school adolescents in Urban Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

Abstract EN

Background: Obesity has become an important public health problem in children and adolescent because of the rapid increase in its prevalence rate and its severe co-morbidities.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among preparatory school adolescent in urban Sharkia Governorate, aged from 12 to 15 years and to explore the associated risk factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at Sharkia Governorate during academic year 2014–2015 (from October 2014 to 30th of May 2015).

All the children were subjected to a prepared questionnaire that included questions related to socio-demographic characteristics, life style (physical activity and eating habits) and anthropometric measurements including height, weight and body mass index.

Results: Nine hundred students participated in this study.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 20% and 10.7% respectively.

The highest rate of overweight was at the age of 13–14 years (grade 2) while the highest rate of obesity at the age of 14–15 years (grade 3).

Risk factors of obesity were low parent education level, skipping breakfast, snack taking, fast food consumption, >2 h per day of television watching, eating while watching television and low level of physical activity.

Conclusion: This study found a relatively high prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents aged 12–15 years in urban Sharkia Governorate.

Risk factors of overweight and obesity were low level of parent education, faulty feeding habits and physical inactivity.