Childhood Obesity in Primary School Children of Middle and Upper-Middle Income Group in the Capital City of Bangladesh

Shuhana Sultana¹, Farzana Saleh^2*, Liaquat Ali³

¹Department of Health Promotion & Health Education, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
²Department of Community Nutrition, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
³Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS), Dhaka, Bangladesh.

DOI: 10.4236/fns.2015.613124                

Abstract

Background: No published information is available on the status of childhood obesity in Bangladeshi primary school children of urban middle and upper-middle income group. The aim of the study was to explore the proportion of childhood obesity in the primary school children of middle and upper-middle income group in capital city and to gather information on their dietary pattern and physical activity. Methods: One hundred and fifty children (age 9 ± 1 years, height (ht) 118 ± 20 cm, weight (wt) 36 ± 8 kg, wt/ht% 126 ± 24, mean ± SD) were selected purposively from the primary schools of Dhaka city. On the basis of predefined scoring, subjects were classified as underweight, normal, overweight and obese if their weight-for-height values were <90%, 91% - 110%, 111% - 120% or >120% of median values for Bangladeshi children respectively. Dietary intake and energy expenditure of the study subjects were calculated by standard techniques. Results: The proportion of childhood overweight and obesity was 52% and 20%. The proportion of overweight and obesity was higher (78%) among girls compared to boys (54%). Similarly, height, weight and other anthropometrics indices were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in girls compared to boys. The daily intake of carbohydrate and protein was significantly (p < 0.05) higher among obese group. Total energy balance was significantly correlated with weight-for-height% (r = 0.541, p = 0.0001). Conclusions: A higher proportion of overweight and obesity had been found in girls’ children than their counter parts in this study. Positive energy balance with higher energy intake from carbohydrate and fast/processed food culture habit were found among primary school children of middle and upper-middle income group in the capital city of Bangladesh.

Keywords

Obesity, Overweight, Weight, Fast Foods Culture, Nutrition, Primary School Children, Urban, Capital City, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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