[ prevalence of obesity and its relative factors among less than 5 years aged children, bandar turkmen district, Iran]

ABSTRACT

Child obesity is increasing in developing countries. This study assessed the prevalence of obesity and some related factors among less than 5-years children in Bandar Turkmen district, Iran. In this descriptive-analytical study, 616 children aged less than 5 years were selected with stratified random sampling. Obesity was defined as more than +2 standard deviation [SD] National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS] reference. Data were collected by interviewing mothers using a questionnaire and were analyzed with chi-square and Fisher's tests and multiple regression logistic models. 6 percent of children were obese. Prevalence of obesity did not differ significantly between boys and girls [6 and 6.1 percent respectively]. Less than 2500 g and more than 4000 g birth weight [P = 0.031], less than 18 months breast feeding duration [P = 0.017], more than 37 years mother's present age [P = 0.039], more than 30 years mother's delivery age [P = 0.043], and formula or cow's milk plus breast feeding up to 6 months of age [P = 0.018] had significant correlation with children's obesity. Exclusively breast feeding up to 6 months of age rather than formula or cow's milk plus breast feeding, reduced obesity risk about 2.45 times [P = 0.019]. This study suggests that exclusively breast feeding at first 6 months of age, longer breast feeding duration and pregnancy in lower than 30 years of age reduce risk of child obesity