Research Article: The Prevalence of weight Imbalance Among Children of Age 6-7 years: A Comparative Study Between Two Metros.

Abstract

The increase in childhood obesity over the past decades, together with associated health problems and cost, is rising gave concern. A study was undertaken with an objective to assess the prevalence of obesity among children, to find the causative factors for obesity and to educate the mothers of obese children to lead a healthy life style. Results were drawn from statistical analysis by involving a study with 100 subjects. Finally the mothers of the obese subjects were educated on healthy eating, consequences of obesity in adult hood, and importance of physical activity

Summary

Childhood years are of great importance because the child develops both physically and psychologically. Subjects for the study were chosen from two cities. High income group school (HIGS) and low income group school (LIGS) from each of the two metros were adopted. Subjects were assessed upon Nutritional Anthropometric measurements, Physical activity assessment and Daily calorie intake by means of questionnaire and case studies. Subjects were classified according to Nutritional status by using Body Mass Index (BMI), weight for age and height for age with regard to Indian standards. Statistical analysis were drawn and concluded that out of 100 subjects 6 were obese who were all from High income group Bangalore and 9 were overweight out of which 3 were from High income group Bangalore and 6 were from High income group Chennai. From analysis of statistical conclusions were drawn that higher socio-economic status accompanying life style modifications, improper eating behaviors, low physical activity and watching television for more hours and long duration of sleep could be causative factors of obesity..

The underlying causes of the obesity epidemic were observed from the research and then Intervention programs were planned to educate mothers. Early Obesity is a risk factor for Non-communicable diseases like Diabetes; hypertension and cardio vascular disorders that were once seen almost exclusively in adults are now being seen in children and with increasing frequency. Obesity affects many systems of the body – cardio vascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and orthopedic-and although adult obesity damages each, childhood obesity often exacerbates the damage. For example, the process that leads to a heart attack or stoke often takes decades to develop into overt diseases. Obese children may thus suffer the adverse effects of cardio vascular disease at a younger age than their parents would despite the advent of new drugs to treat some of these problems. They also suffer from higher rates of depression, greater difficulty in peer relationships, and poorer quality of life than their normal weight counter parts. . To inculcate healthy life style and eating habits in children becomes very important and parents play an important role in developing good habits

Author: KalpanaPrasad
Performance Nutritionist
Research Thesis of the year Oct 09