RISK FACTORS FOR OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY AMONG SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN [6-18 YEARS] IN RAJASTHAN

Abstract

Background: To study the risk factor of obesity and overweight among school children in Rajasthan

Methods: This study was conducted in Department of Pediatrics in collaboration with department of Radiology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital of Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences and Technology, RIICO Industrial Area, Sitapura, Jaipur (Rajasthan) from January 2018 to June 2019.

Results: Out of total 70 overweight and obese candidates, 28 (40 %) candidates watched TV less than 1 hours while remaining 42 (60 %) watched TV more than 2 hours. Statistical significance was found between BMI and hours of watching TV (p = 0.001).According to outdoor activity 52 (74.3%) candidates have outdoor activity less than 1 hour while remaining 18 (25.7%) spent more than 1 hours for outdoor activity. Prevalence of overweight and obese was more in urban school in comparison to rural school because of less outdoor activity and intake of frequent fast food and prolonged TV watching.

Conclusions:  Duration of physical activity, consumption of fast food and watching TV had a significant association with BMI.

Keywords: Childhood obesity, overweight, school children