Determination of Risk Factors Associated with Childhood Obesity and the Correlation with Adult Obesity- A Random Cross Sectional Study from Nepal

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a global problem that is rising at an astounding rate. The children and adolescent obesity are the burning issues. Body mass index (BMI) also called Quetelet Index (initially described by Quetelet in 1869), has become the measurement of choice to measure overweight and obesity in adults. To date there is no information on the extent of affliction due to overweight and obesity among children and their associated risk factors in Nepal. Objectives: The study was undertaken to find out if dietary, behavioral and physical factors contributed to risk of obesity in Nepalese children and adolescents around Kathmandu valley and to find out the association between childhood obesity with parental obesity. Methods: The study was conducted among subjects aged 5-19 years at four different locations; Lalitpur, Thimi, Kushadevi and Dhulikhel, Nepal. A total of 324 children and their 648 parents (324 father and mother each) participated in the study. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for all participants. Variables relation to socioeconomic status, dietary habits, physical factors and emotional well being were determined using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: As determined with the help of BMI, the factors like socioeconomic status and sedentary lifestyle were found to contribute to various conditions like obesity, underweight and overweight in children of various ages, although, prevalence of obesity was low compared to the other conditions. Also BMI of children was found to be positively and significantly correlated with father's and mother's BMI indicating its importance as a marker in progression of such health conditions in children. Conclusions: BMI proved to be a reliable indicator of adverse health conditions like obesity in Nepalese children and could contribute to understanding the role of the various risk factors of dietary, social and physical nature in the development of these conditions.