PREVALENCE OF OBESITY AMONG TEENAGERS IN A HIGHER SEC ONDARY SCHOOL OF BIRGUNJ, NEPAL

Obesity is often defined as a condition of abnormal or exercise fat accumulation in adipose tissue, to the extent that health may be impaired. In this study an attempt was made to estimate the prevalence of obesity among teenagers. Total 130 students of gr ade IX and X age group between 13 - 19 years of Children’s World Higher Secondary School were included in the study. Cross - sectional study was done to estimate the prevalence of obesity. Data was collected on age and sex specific criteria. Height and weig ht was measured according to the standard procedure and BMI was calculated. Frequency and percentage was calculated for assessing the prevalence of obesity. Finding of the study indicated that prevalence rate of obesity in relation to age and sex are 83 (6 3.85%) among males and 47 (36.15%) among females. Prevalence of obesity is slightly more in males than females. The obesity epidemic is showing its maximum effect in low - and middle - income countries like Nepal. Countries like Nepal concentrating its all ef fort in curing the disease rather than prevention. In this study an effort has been made to study the prevalence of obesity among the teenagers of a school in Nepal.