Occurrence of overweight, obesity and their associated risk factors among primary school pupils in Samarra/Iraq: a cross –sectional study

Abstract

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among schoolchildren in the Eastern Mediterranean region is increasing. The aim of this study is to find the prevalence and the associated risk factors of increasing weight among primary school pupils. Methods This is a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out during the school year 2019 in Samarra city/Iraq. A total of 450 primary schoolchildren of both sexes (222 male and 228 female) were involved in this study aged 7 to 13 years. Children were categorized into four BMI categories: Thin < 5th percentile, normal ≥ 5-84th percentile, overweight 85-97th percentile and obese ≥ 97th. All students weighed with light clothes and were barefooted. Significance of difference of different qualitative data were tested using Chi-square test with application of Yate's correction. Results Occurrence of obesity in this study was 12%, and overweight was 18.4%. It was found that most food taken to school were sugar and carbohydrates (Chips and Juice were 25%, Biscuit and chocolate were 28.1%). Class grade (second and third) (p value=0.0001) of schoolchildren and mother education risk factors (p value=0.025) shows significant difference with BMI percentile. In addition, our results show significant difference with BMI percentile and risk factors (type of food taken to school (p value: 0.048), taking money to buy from school canteen (0.005), soft drinking (0.038), and eating snacks (0.001). Conclusion In this survey, an increase in occurrence of weight among primary schoolchildren was found. Several factors contribute in this epidemiological result including absence of health-educated programs delivered to the pupils by schools.