Abstract:
Background: Obesity is abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. Its
prevalence is increasing worldwide. Childhood obesity is associated with a higher chance of
obesity, premature death, and disability in adulthood. However, in Ethiopia information is very
scarce in early age and untying childhood overweight and obesity as two outcome variables.
Therefore, we aimed to assess childhood overweight, obesity, and associated factors among
primary school children age 6-12 years Shashemene, southern Ethiopia.
Objective: To assess the prevalence of childhood overweight, obesity and associated factors
among Primary school children in shashemene town, Southern Ethiopia.
Methods: A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from April, 1-26/2018. Data were
collected from 576 children and their mothers. Stratified systematic random sampling technique
was used. Binary logistic regression was carried out to identify factors associated with overweight
and obesity. Statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05 with 95% CI.
Results: The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity were 14.9% (95%CI: 12.6%, 18.9%)
and 5.2% (95% CI: 3.5%, 6.9%) respectively. Medium wealth status (AOR=4.7, 95%CI=2.3,9.6),
eating snack(>1times/day) (AOR=4.4,95%CI=2.1, 9.1), skipping breakfast(<4times/week)
(AOR=3.3, 95%CI=1.9, 5.7), vegetables and fruits consumptions(<2times/week) (AOR=3.9, 95%
CI=2.1, 8.2), using vehicles for school (AOR=4.2, 95% CI=2.1, 8.2) were significantly associated
with childhood overweight. High wealth (AOR=2.4, 95% CI=1.1, 5.5), breastfeeding (<4month)
(AOR=6.5, 95%CI=2.8, 14.8), eating junk and sweet foods>2times/week (AOR=2.5, 95% CI=1,
5.5) and use vehicles for school (AOR=5.5, 95%CI=2.3, 12.3) were significantly associated with
childhood obesity.
Conclusion & Recommendation: The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity among
Shashemene primary school found to be as high as that of global prevalence estimate. Medium
wealth status, more snack food consumption, skipping breakfast, less consumption of vegetable
and fruits and inactive lifestyle were factors associated with childhood overweight. High wealth
status, not breastfeeding, more junk food and sweet consumptions and inactive lifestyle were
factors associated with childhood obesity. Active lifestyles, increasing consumption of healthy
diets (more consumption of vegetables, fruits, and breakfast), decreasing unhealthy feeding (less
consumption of snacks, sweet foods, and junk foods) and exclusive breastfeeding should be a
public health priority.
