Author/Authors :
Geckil Emine نويسنده Nuringing Department, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya,
Turkey , Aslan Sinan نويسنده School of Health Science, Adiyaman University,
Turkey , Derya Ister Emine نويسنده School of Health Science, Adiyaman University,
Turkey , Kucukkelpçe Simsek Didem نويسنده School of Health Science, Adiyaman University,
Turkey , Sahin Turkan نويسنده School of Health Science, Adiyaman University,
Turkey
Abstract :
Background Obesity in children and adolescents is a serious
public-health concern, and obesity research has become an important
field of study. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the
prevalence and risk factors of overweight and obesity in
elementary-school children from the first to eighth grade. Methods This
is a descriptive, cross-sectional study. The research sample included
3,028 children from seven elementary schools selected according to
stratified random sampling. The data were obtained using a demographic
form and a 25-question survey. Each child’s height and weight were
measured by the researchers. The data were analyzed by frequency and
logistic regression in the statistical package for the social sciences
and Excel programs. Results The children were all between 5 and 15 years
old. 51.2% of the children were male, 13.4% were overweight (between 85
and 95th percentile) according to the Body Mass Index, and 8.7% were
obese (above 95th percentile). Risk factors for obesity included having
moderate (OR:2.57, 95%,CI: 1.10 - 6.00) or high socioeconomic status
(OR:2.97, CI: 1.26 - 6.98), mother’s university education (OR:2.34, CI:
1.16 - 4.74), overweight or obese mother (OR:2.00, CI: 1.14 - 3.52),
overweight or obese father (OR:1.96, CI: 1.06 - 3.62), and consuming
milk pudding more than 4 times per week (OR:2.76, CI: 1.21 - 6.26).
Consuming nuts more than 4 times per week was a preventive factor
against being overweight (OR:0.36, CI: 0.26 - 0.78) and obese (OR:0.01,
CI: 0.20 - 0.85). Risk factors for overweight included being male,
traveling to school by car, mother with higher education levels, and
overweight or obese parents. Conclusions Childhood overweight and
obesity are important problems that must be resolved. Pediatric nurses
can play an important role in the identification of overweight and obese
children in schools. They can organize obesity-prevention programs for
groups at risk.
