Prevalence of Obesity is Rising Among Primary School Children in Dhaka City of Bangladesh

Background: The rising prevalence of childhood obesity poses a major public health challenge and needs to be addressed accordingly. Aims and Objectives: To see the frequency of overweight and obesity in primary school children of Dhaka city and to analyze the impact of socioeconomic status and associated hypertension on the anthropometric indices. Materials and Methods: Multistage random cluster sample of 504 children of 9-14 years (age: 11.31±1.39, M±SD; M/F: 256/248) was done. The obesity and overweight were considered using an updated body mass index (BMI) reference, waist circumference (WC), waist height ratio (WHtR) and waist hip ratio (WHR). Socioeconomic status, life style factors as well as blood pressure were considered as influencing factors. Results: About 13.0% (64/504) were underweight, 63.5% (320/504) normal weight, and 12.9% (65/504) overweight and 10.9% (55/504) obese. Most of normal and overweight BMI status was from middle class (51.6% and 55.4% respectively). By WHtR about 55-70% children belonged to normal BMI status while 22.6% was obese. Systolic and diastolic hypertensions were found in 19.9% and 29.8% respectively. BMI correlated with age WHtR, WC, WHR, systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as socioeconomic condition (p<0.001 for all). WHtR, WC, WHR (P<0.001 for all) were independent predictors for BMI. Conclusions: Prevalence of obesity is on rise in Bangladeshi children. It is high time for the concerned authority and the stakeholders to initiate appropriate measures to combat this rising prevalence.