Write an article on Obesity among school childrens
Answers
Explanation:
Many countries in South-East Asia including India are going through an economic and nutrition transition.(1) The nutrition transition is associated with a change in dietary habits, decreasing physical activity and rising prevalence of obesity.(2) Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Obesity in children and adolescents is gradually becoming a major public health problem in many developing countries, including India.(3) ‘One-half of obese school children become obese adults. However, whether or not obesity persists into adulthood, obesity in childhood appears to increase the risk of subsequent morbidity′.(4–6) Significance of estimating prevalence of childhood obesity thus cannot be overemphasized.
There are a few studies, reporting, prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity and overweight from different parts of India (Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi and South India) that range from 3% to 29%, and also indicate that the prevalence is higher in urban than in rural areas.(7) However, there is no published data on a representative sample from Puducherry on prevalence of childhood obesity. With recent rise in number of diabetics (5.04%)(8) and hypertensives in the Union Territory of Puducherry, it was necessary to have the accurate data on prevalence of childhood obesity and therefore an attempt was made to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school children aged between 6 and 12 yrs. It was also decided to study any differences in prevalence based on age group, gender, place of residence (regions or urban/ rural) and place of study (Government / private school)