The prevalence of nutritional status and obesity in adolescents in Babylon Province, Iraq

Abstract

Background:Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by excessive fat accumulation that can lead to different complications.Objectives:However, identifying the prevalence of nutritional status and obesity in adolescents in Babylon governorate and searching for the relationship with different factors constitute the main objectives of this study.Materials and Methods:This study was cross-sectional study curried on 500 high school students aged between 16 and 19 years. Among them, half of them were female students. Study period was between February and June 2022; weight and height were measured to each participant to calculate body mass index (BMI) and they were requested to fill a questionnaire to identify any risk factor relation-ship.Results:Out of all, 14.2% were underweight, 55.4% were normal weight, 20.4% were overweight and 10% obese adolescents. There was a significant relationship between BMI from one hand and male gender, living in rural areas, high family income and soft drink (beverage consumption per week) on the other hand.Conclusion:The prevalence of overweight and obesity was around than one third (20.4% + 10% = 30.4% collectively, whereas 14.2% were underweight out of all participants in this study).

Keywords

• adolescent
• bmi
• malnutrition
• obesity
• overweight
• underweight