Prevalence of Childhood Overweight And Obesity and its Determinant Factors Among Elementary School Children In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2014-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Obesity and overweight pose major risk for serious diet-related chronic diseases,
including type2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and certain forms of
cancer. Even though there is no well-documented information recently, chronic diseases that are
directly or indirectly related to overweight and obesity become increasing in Ethiopia especially
in urban areas.
Objective: the main aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of childhood overweight
and obesity and its determinant factors.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 463 elementary school children in
Addis Ababa. Study participants were selected using multi stage sampling from 10 public and 10
private elementary Schools. Overweight and obesity was determined using CDC 2000, BMI
percentile chart. Socio-demographic and other determinants of childhood overweight were
assessed. Data were collected using combination of interview of children and self-administered
questionnaire to their parents. Finally data were processed and analyzed using Epi info version
3.5.4and SPSS version 21.
Result: A total 463 children and 463 parents participated in the study. The overall prevalence of
underweight, normal, overweight and obesity is 44(9.5%), 360(77.8%), 46(9.9%) and 13(2.8%)
respectively. Sex specific prevalence of overweight and obesity shows 7.7% and 3.2% for male
and 12%and 2.5% for female respectively. Significant association with overweight was observed
among car ownership of the family (p<0.001), number of snacks per day (p=0.03), sweet food
preference (p<0.001), buying ice cream (p=0.014), eating breakfast regularly (p=0.034), walking
or riding bicycle for at least 10 minutes per day (p=0.009) and family participation in regular
physical activity (p=0.023).
Conclusion and Recommendations: The prevalence of overweight was found to be high even
computable with the global prevalence. Among the factors identified are unhealthy dietary
pattern like preferring sweet foods, eating breakfast irregularly, buying ice cream and frequent
snacking are strongly associated with overweight. In addition physical inactivity are also
important factors impacting on the risk of obesity in children. If Primary preventive measures is
not taken immediately, prevalence of overweight and obesity among children in Addis Ababa
might increase rapidly in the coming few years. Early interventions on modifiable risk factors by
promoting active lifestyles and healthy diets are likely to decrease the rate of childhood obesity
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Keywords
Childhood, Elementary School Children