The Burden of Overweight and its Risk Factors in Urban Nepalese School Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study
Journal Title: Journal of Quality in Health Care & Economics (JQHE) - Year 2021, Vol 4, Issue 4
Abstract
Introduction: Adolescent’s overweight is rising in both developing and developed countries. Overweight and obese adolescents are more likely to become obese adults which stimulate the risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and so on. Adolescence is the critical period for development of unhealthy lifestyles and food choices which increases the risk of NCDs. The loss of productivity, premature deaths and disability has been associated with NCDs at younger ages. This study focuses on identifying the prevalence and associated risk factors with adolescents’ overweight. Methods: A school based cross-sectional study was conducted between August-October 2020 in Gokarneshwor municipality of Nepal. A random sample of 558 students aged 10-19 years from nine schools was included in the study. A self-administered questionnaire was filled out by the study participants. Anthropometric indices were measured and categorized using BMI for age Z-score. Descriptive statistics were carried out. Variables were considered for multivariable logistic regression if a Wald test p-value was ≤0.25 during bivariate logistic regression. The odds ratio with a 95% CI was calculated and a p-value of ≤0.05 was considered to declare the statistical significance of variables after fitting into the multivariable logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of overweight among school adolescents was 17.9% (95% CI 14.7 to 21.1). The female adolescents were more likely to get overweight as compared to male adolescents (AOR 1.53, 95% CI 0.97 to 2.39). Similarly, the adolescents staying with more than four family members were less likely to get overweight as compared to their counterparts (AOR 0.57, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.95). There was no statistical significant association between adolescent overweight and age group, family type, school type, mothers’ occupation or fruits consumption. Conclusion: The study findings highlighted the accelerated increase in the prevalence of overweight among school adolescents in Nepal. Therefore, appropriate nutritional intervention focusing on tackling overweight should be formulated and implemented so that the prevalence of overweight-associated non-communicable diseases can be minimized.
Authors and Affiliations
Chaulagain K*
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP751469
- DOI 10.23880/jqhe-16000230
- Views 49
- Downloads 0
Evolution of Cholecystectomy-Gall Bladder must be Removed not because it Contains Stones but Forms them
Normally, human bile contains enough chemicals to dissolve the cholesterol excreted by our liver. But if our liver excretes more cholesterol than the bile can dissolve, the excess cholesterol, too much bilirubin, or not...
Advancing Quality in Health Economics and Dentistry: A Comprehensive Review
This review delves into the intersection of precision-driven healthcare and economic considerations within dentistry. Emphasizing meticulous care and resource allocation, it draws on seminal literature to present qualita...
Towards the Path of "Health in All Policies" in Germany: Proposal for a Policy Paper
The idea that it is possible to improve the health of citizens through integrated strategies with a "Health in all Policies" approach has been advocated in Germany mainly from an academic point of view and not from affil...
From de Chilean Social Outbreak to the Covid-19 Pandemic: Approaches of a Deep Change
In October 2019 Chile began to experience a process of deep social, political and economic crisis that was triggered by the rise in the price of public transport. One of the most frequently quoted phrases during the begi...
Prioritize Placating Panicky Parents of Paediatric Pyrexial Seizure
A febrile seizure is a convulsion in a toddler or a child that's caused by a fever, from an explicit or implicit infection. Febrile seizures occur in young, healthy children who have normal development and haven't had an...