FREQUENCY AND RISK FACTORS OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESE SCHOOL GOING ADOLESCENTS OF DISTRICT PESHAWAR, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the frequency and risk factors of overweight and obese school going children of district Peshawar. To determine association of these risk factors with obesity in school going children. Material and methods: This is a cross sectional descriptive study, performed in public and private schools of district Peshawar from 1st October 2020 till 30th March 2021. A pre validated questionnaire was used to assess the dietary habits of students. The listed schools were stratified according to the monthly fee structure of the schools into three strata, low SES status (fee < 1000 PKR), middle SES (fee = 1000-2500 PKR), high socioeconomic status (SES) (fee > 2500 PKR). Two schools were selected using stratified random technique from each stratum. Simple random sampling technique (balloting) was used to select students from each selected school. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23. Chi square test was used to determine association between obesity and socioeconomic status and between obesity and dietary habits. Kendal-tau was used to determine statistical correlation between obesity and socioeconomic status and between obesity and dietary habits. Results: The overall frequency of overweight and obesity was found to be 14.7 % and 8% respectively. After applying chi square test, it was found that obesity has a significant association with socioeconomic condition and dietary habits of children. Kendal-tau was applied to develop correlation. It was found that obesity has positive correlation with socioeconomic condition +0.312. However obesity has negative correlation with dietary habits -0.092. Conclusion: childhood obesity is rising significantly in district Peshawar where every 4th or 5th child is either overweight or obese. The major risk factors that were studied were socioeconomic status and dietary habits, which were statistically found to be associated with obesity. Keywords: BMI, school going children, obesity, overweight.