Original Research Article
Year: 2021 | Month: November | Volume: 8 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 198-204
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20211126
Assessment of Risk Factors for Overweight and Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study among Rural School Going Children in Hooghly District, West Bengal
Malay Kumar Das1, Aparajita Dasgupta2, Rabindranath Sinha3, Sudipta Das4
1Demonstrator, Dept. of Community Medicine, Murshidabad Medical College,
2Ex Prof. and Head of the Dept. of P.S.M, AIIH & PH, Kolkata.
3Professor, Department of M.C.H, AIIH&PH, Kolkata.
4Demonstrator, Dept. of Community Medicine, Medical College, Kolkata.
Corresponding Author: Malay Kumar Das
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Intermediate school children are in the transition phase from adolescent to adulthood. This age group is known for experimentation and vulnerability to adopt lifestyles predisposing to non-communicable diseases.
Method: A pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was used in class-room setting to collect information from students regarding presence of risk factors of non-communicable diseases. The respondents were also subjected to anthropometric measurements and blood pressure examination using standard operating procedures.
Results: A total of 761 students of class VI-XII participated in the study of which 61.4% were boys and rests were girls. Increased body mass index among boys and girls were 12.6% and 11.6% were respectively. In Bivariate analysis fast food intake (>3 times/week) (OR=1.92), less physical activity (OR=1.86), high blood pressure (OR=2.53) were significantly associated with increased body mass index. In Multivariate analysis fast food intake (AOR=1.83), less physical activity (AOR= 1.94), high blood pressure (AOR=2.40) remains significant predictor.
Conclusion: Therefore it is strongly felt that all efforts must be made to obviate the risk factors of overweight and obesity among the general mass at a very early age. Those efforts must be well structured, scientifically systematized and socially implementable.
Keywords: Children, BMI, Risk factor, Rural school.
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