Prevalence of Obesity and Associated Risk Factors among Adolescents in Kancheepuram, south India

Prevalence of obesity has emerged as an epidemic worldwide.

The present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school going adolescents in the age group of 12-15years in high schools kancheepuram district, South India.

A total of 2016 school going adolescents were involved in the present study. Overweight and obesity were assessed using Revised IAP BMI for age and sex specific cut off points.

The results showed that the prevalence of overweight was 12.5 percentage and obesity was 7.7 percentage according to Body Mass Index cut off values based on IAP classification. There was a significant association between obesity and age, area of residence, birth order, family income, parent's education and family history of obesity. The risk factors associated with obesity were adolescents in pubertal age, urban area of living, family history of obesity, private school education, first born, illiterate mothers and high socioeconomic status.

Actions need to be taken to curb the problem of obesity among adolescents. Public health interventions at the individual and policy-making levels need to be instigated at the earliest, to tackle this problem in the country.