RESUMO
Overweight and obesity is an escalating health problem in both developed and developing countries. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents aged 13-16 years in Irbid governorate, Jordan, and to compare the prevalence by sex, residential area and socioeconomic status. In a cluster random sample of 1355 school students the prevalence of overweight and obesity (body mass index > or = 85th percentile) was 24.4% (15.7% overweight and 8.7% obese) and was significantly higher among female students, students who lived in urban areas and those with working parents. This high prevalence of overweight is a serious concern for public health in Jordan.
Assuntos
Obesidade/epidemiologia , Sobrepeso/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Índice de Massa Corporal , Distribuição de Qui-Quadrado , Análise por Conglomerados , Estudos Transversais , Comportamento Alimentar , Feminino , Necessidades e Demandas de Serviços de Saúde , Humanos , Jordânia/epidemiologia , Masculino , Obesidade/diagnóstico , Obesidade/etiologia , Obesidade/prevenção & controle , Sobrepeso/diagnóstico , Sobrepeso/etiologia , Sobrepeso/prevenção & controle , Vigilância da População , Prevalência , Características de Residência/estatística & dados numéricos , Fatores de Risco , Comportamento Sedentário , Distribuição por Sexo , Classe Social , Estudantes/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
Overweight and obesity is an escalating health problem in both developed and developing countries. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents aged 13-16 years in Irbid governorate, Jordan, and to compare the prevalence by sex, residential area and socioeconomic status. In a cluster random sample of 1355 school students the prevalence of overweight and obesity [body mass index >/= 85th percentile] was 24.4% [15.7% overweight and 8.7% obese] and was significantly higher among female students, students who lived in urban areas and those with working parents. This high prevalence of overweight is a serious concern for public health in Jordan
