Prevalence of overweight and obesity in 11-15 years old (mid-school) students in Birjand, 2005

The prevalence of obesity and overweight in children and adolescence has increased in communities in recent decades. Childhood obesity is likely associated with adulthood obesity and increases related diseases. By determining the prevalence, screening and appropriate intervention and consequently reduction of short and long term complications is expectable. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 11 to 15 years old mid-school students in Birjand. This descriptive-analytic and cross sectional study was performed in 2005 in Birjand. We examined 2105 students (1067 boys and 1038 girls), 11-15 years old. Subjects were selected via a step wise random sampling from four districts of Birjand. Heights and weights and BMI were measured by two trained medical students via standard methods. Persons with BMI of 85 to 95 percentile were assumed as overweight and those with more than 95 as obese according to CDC standards. Other demographic information was gained through interviews and questionnaires. Then, information was encoded and data were analyzed by SPSS (11.5) at α<0.05 The overall prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 5.2 % (6.5% girls, 3.9% boys) and 2.1% (1.5% girls, 2.8% boys), respectively. Overweight and obesity were significantly related to parents’ education levels, mother’s job numbers of children. They were most prevalent in students with parents of higher education levels, employed mothers, and fewer numbers of children in the family. Lifestyle plays an important role in obesity. According to this study, Obesity prevalence is more in families of fewer children, higher educated parents and employed mothers. It is recommended to make cautious high socioeconomic families and in the proceeding studies investigate obesity associated factors more precisely.