Anita Patil
India
Title: Estimates of Adolescent Obesity: Based on Nationally represented sample of 20 states in India
Biography
Biography: Anita Patil
Abstract
Statement of problem: Prevalence of childhood obesity has risen globally in recent years. Some studies like International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO) and International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) have documented childhood obesity prevalence rate and its trend based on data of six countries. There is lack of national representative data on childhood obesity for India. However, nationally representing studies like Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) have studied adolescent population in few thousand (n=87022). We attempted to find prevalence of overweight and obesity based on national registry data (District Level Household Survey). Also to find overweight children falling between 85th-95th percentile and obese >95th percentile of BMI in studied population.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: All children (5-8 Years) and adolescents (9-18 Years) from District Level Household Survey with valid records of height, weight, age and sex and locality were selected. BMI using Age and Sex of an individual were compared with standard growth charts recommended by IAP. BMI-Z score were calculated and compared with standard values and accordingly each individual were tagged as Severely-underweight, Underweight, Normal-weight, Overweight and Obese. Based on overall data, age-sex specific BMI percentile values were calculated for 3rd, 5th, 85th and 95th. Proportion of overweight and obese children across each state is represented using ArcGIS 2.0.
Findings: 255614 children data of 20 states from India were studied. 15% children and adolescents were found overweight and obese. Age wise decreasing pattern was seen in obesity, 17% obesity for 5 years to 13% in 18 years. Gender wise no significant difference was seen. Prevalence of obesity is seen high in some of southern states compared to eastern states.
Conclusion & Significance: Prevalence of obesity and overweight is found higher in urban than rural region. Higher obese-overweight prevalence adolescent were found in states like Goa, Kerala and Pondicherry.