[Childhood obesity and its association with some biological factors in Neishabour school children]

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing worldwide, even in countries where malnutrition is still a public health problem. The present study presents investigates obesity in the students of Neishabour and its associated factors results, focusing on physical activity and sleep duration and their association to childhood obesity. In a cross-sectional study conducted during 2005, a total of 1471 students, aged 6-12 years, were selected by two stage cluster sampling. Height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated. Physical activity information was gathered using the Beacke et al questionnaire with minor modifications. The questionnaire was filled by asking pupils and mothers [sleep duration, the difference between night sleep, and morning wake up times]. Obesity was defined as having a BMI>=95 th percentile of the Iranian reference. Thus, 114 pupils were selected as the case group and the controls [n=102] were chosen from among students having 15 th =television, using the computer or playing video games were significantly different between the case and control groups. There was a significant correlation between childhood obesity and mean times of watching television, using the computer or playing video games. Mean physical activity scored differed significantly between case and control groups [P<0.001] as did the mean hours of sleeping between case and control groups [P<0.001]. There was no significant association between childhood obesity and duration of sleeping. Physical activity in our subjects was below the acceptable level and strategies are needed to improve this