2022, Vol. 9, Issue 3, Part A

Materials and Methods: A survey study was conducted among 2182 school children aged between 14 to 18 years in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India. The study included 1335 boys and 847 girls, and formal administrative approval was obtained prior to the study. Eleven schools were selected using stratified sampling technique, and all children studying in the 9th to 12th standards from the selected schools participated in the study. The children were personally interviewed, and standardized instruments and techniques were used for anthropometric measurements, including height and weight. BMI was calculated using WHO Standard Growth Reference for BMI for specific age and gender.

Results: A survey of 2182 school children aged 14-18 in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India showed that 13.65% were overweight or obese. The prevalence of obesity was highest in the 17-year age group and was slightly higher among girls than boys. The prevalence of overweight was slightly higher among boys than girls, while the prevalence of underweight was significantly higher among boys than girls. The study also showed that the prevalence of obesity and overweight was higher in rural areas compared to urban areas.

Conclusion: The study found high prevalence of underweight and overweight among school children in the surveyed area. Underweight was higher among boys, while overweight was slightly higher among boys than girls. Obesity was higher among girls, with the highest prevalence observed among 17-year-olds. Rural areas had a higher prevalence of obesity and overweight than urban areas. Overall, the study highlights the need for interventions to address the high prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity among school children.