Prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity among primary school children and associated factors in shashemene town, southern Ethiopia

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.