Prevalence of Obesity among School Children in South Delhi

Abstract

Introduction: Being overweight or obese constitutes well-established risk elements for non- communicable diseases (NCDs), bringing about a range of health implications. The global increase in obesity rates has impacted nations across the spectrum of development, encompassing both developed and developing regions, with India being no exception. Children and adolescents are increasingly vulnerable to obesity, raising concerns about its long-term health impacts. Material and Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the occurrence of overweight and obesity among students attending schools in South Delhi. The selection process involved using stratified random sampling to choose both a government and a private school for the study. Students from classes V (preadolescent) and IX (adolescent) were included. A self-structured, pretested, validated questionnaire was used, and anthropometric measurements were taken to categorize subjects using World Health Organization BMI cut-offs. Observation and Result: Out of 171 participating school children, 13.45% were classified as overweight or obese. The prevalence was higher in the adolescent age group (IX standard) compared to the preadolescent group (V standard). Boys exhibited a higher prevalence (16.53%) than girls (6%), particularly in the adolescent age category. Private schools showed a higher prevalence compared to government schools (21.81% in boys, 3.70% in girls). Discussion: The study confirms a significant prevalence of obesity (13.45%) among schoolchildren in South Delhi, with notable gender disparities and age-related patterns. The findings align with similar studies in India, emphasizing the higher prevalence in boys and adolescents. Private schools demonstrated a higher prevalence than government schools, consistent with observations in other regions. This research focuses on the rising occurrence of overweight and obesity among students in South Delhi, India.