ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To establish the prevalence of overweight and obesity and related risk factors in children from Seychelles (Indian Ocean), a country in rapid economic and epidemiological transition. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with retrospective access to early life data. SUBJECTS: All children from all schools of Seychelles, in four selected school grades (kindergarten, fourth, seventh and tenth year of obligatory school) in 1999. A total of 5514 children aged 4.5-17.4 y were measured, corresponding to 83.5% of the eligible population. MEASUREMENTS: Overweight and obesity, using age- and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) cut-off points as defined by the International Obesity Task Force. RESULTS: Some 12.6% (95% confidence interval: 11.8-13.5%) of the children were overweight and 3.8% (3.3-4.4%) were obese. Weight gain (kg) during the first year of life was strongly associated with subsequent overweight (odds ratio 1.46, 95% confidence interval 1.27-1.67) and obesity (1.59, 1.29-1.97) in childhood, independently of birth weight. Increased maternal BMI (kg/m(2)) was also associated with overweight (1.07, 1.03-1.10) and obesity (1.09, 1.04-1.14) in the offspring. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of overweight and obesity among school children in Seychelles was as high as or higher than in some industrialized countries. If confirmed in other environments, the strong association between weight gain during the first year of life and subsequent obesity in childhood could affect the way optimal infant weight gain is defined in countries where public health priorities are changing.
Subject(s)
Obesity/epidemiology , Obesity/etiology , Adolescent , Body Mass Index , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Health Transition , Humans , Male , Prevalence , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Seychelles/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Medical and dental services in the Seychelles have expanded rapidly over the past decade and a half. The profession now faces the task of adapting and improvising these services to meet both the needs of the public its serves; and its own needs; in the 21st century. The formation of the present Seychelles Medical and Dental Association; and the launching of the Association's journal; have come about as part of the response to these needs
Subject(s)
Dental Health Services , Interprofessional Relations , Professional Corporations , Public HealthABSTRACT
The history of the modern medicine in Seychelles is described here. Indeed; the history goes back to the arrival of the first settlers on 27 th August; 1770. It means that the first the Doctor to work in these Islands was a colonist. The Seychelles got their own Doctor in 1928
