Background: World wide spreading on an alarming rate the new non-communicable disease with less paid attention as compared to other nutritional studies: Obesity is catching the attention of medical practioners and policy makers alike. Obesity trends are causing serious public health concerns not only in developed countries but also in the 3rd world countries (developing nations) like ours, as they are causing excusive burden on the viability of already compromised health care system. Objective: This report present the urban anthropometric data of school going children of the state which came into existence not long ago, with varied health needs and limited health care resources: the state of Chhattisgarh. The study states the prevalence of obesity and overweight among school children of Raigarh district and focuses on tabulating BMI charts for Chhattisgarh State population’ as a data base is not available for the same till date. Materials Methods: Data was collected from school going children of an urban school at Raigarh aged between 4-19 years for both girls and boys. Data was subjected to statistical analysis and results obtained were compared with the WHO guidelines and also postulated by Indian Academy of Paediatrics. Total 4421 students were subjected towards anthropometric measurements. Result: The overall prevalence of obesity (i.e. Subjects having BMI more than 95th percentile) was 5.01 percent. Among boys it was 4.98 percent whereas among girls it was observed at 5.05 percent. Overweight children who ranged between 85th to 95th percentiles recorded a total share of 9.97 percent which was seen as 10 percent in boys and 9.92 percent in girls. But in adolescent age groups the prevalence calculated was far more than expected. Conclusion: This latest data adds to the knowledge about the obesity trends in the newly developing state of Chhattisgarh and requires timely intervention by health authorities for its control. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i5.12191Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(5) 2015 41-46
Inequalities in paediatric obesity trends: challenges and opportunities
