OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY AMONG EARLY ADOLESCENTS FROM GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS OF DHARAN, NEPAL: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Shakya T*, Jha CB, Shakya N and Samjhana Sharma

ABSTRACT

Background: Overweight and obesity has emerged as one of the global health problems not only in developed countries but have also increased significantly in low and middle income countries such as Nepal. As these incidences are rising across the globe during childhood and adolescence, comorbidities related to these conditions are also increasing. Objective  Determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among study population and compare these prevalence in government and private schools.  Gender-wise comparison of overweight and obesity in both types of schools. Methods: Comparative cross sectional study was conducted in Dharan. A total of 800 early adolescents were selected, 400 each from 6 government and 18 private schools. Height and weight was measured and BMI calculated. Overweight and obesity was determined using the WHO (2007), age and gender specific BMI for age Z scores. Results: Among study population the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 8.8% and 3.3% respectively. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher among adolescents from private than government schools (13.7% and 5.8% vs. 3.8% and 0.8%). In both types of schools prevalence of overweight was higher among male than female. In government prevalence of obesity was higher among female, whereas in private it was higher among male. Conclusion: Overweight and obesity was significantly higher among adolescents from private than government schools. Awareness should be created to promote a healthy balance of diet and physical activity within and outside the school to prevent and control overweight and obesity among school children.

Keywords: Early adolescent, anthropometry, overweight, obesity.