Armaghane Danesh Bimonthly Journal (Nov 2018)
Prevalence of Abnormalities in The Structure of Overweight and Obese Girls in Yasuj Elementary Schools
Abstract
Abstract Background & aim: The students’ physical health and the proper formation of their musculoskeletal system is a basic requirement for children’s overall health. Most of the musculoskeletal chronic pain can be controlled and reduced by early childhood education and training. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of postural deformities in overweight and obese girls in elementary schools of Yasuj Methods: the present cross-sectional study was carried out in the school year of 2017-2018 using multistage cluster sampling. At the first stage, 1215 students in grades four to six from six schools in Yasuj, Iran, were examined and finally, with following the inclusion criteria, 236 students were enrolled. The data were collected using a chessboard, Vernier caliper and the New York Test. The height and weight of the participants were measured to calculate the BMI according to WHO guidelines. BMI was categorized according to age and gender by using the CDC’s determination software of body mass index for individuals under the age of 18. Results: The prevalence of musculoskeletal abnormalities in overweight and obese students and prevalence of overweight and obesity in 1215 students in the primary sample was 12.8% and 6.6%, respectively. The waist circumference is almost 60% higher and the knee bracelet has the lowest prevalence rates of approximately 11% with abnormalities. Also, more than 58% of these students had 3 abnormalities and more. More Conclusion: The high prevalence of musculoskeletal deformity among obese and overweight students represents a real treat to their health status, and emphasizes on the necessity of planning the preventive and controlling interventions as the priorities in the health programs.
