Childhood Obesity in Primary School Children of Middle and Upper-Middle Income Group in the Capital City of Bangladesh

• Published in: Food and nutrition sciences Vol. 6; no. 13; pp. 1185 - 1192
• Main Authors: Sultana, Shuhana, Saleh, Farzana, Ali, Liaquat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.10.2015
• ISSN: 2157-944X; 2157-9458
• DOI: 10.4236/fns.2015.613124

No published information is available on the status of childhood obesity in Bangladeshi primary school children of urban middle and upper-middle income group. The aim of the study was to explore the proportion of childhood obesity in the primary school children of middle and upper-middle income group in capital city and to gather information on their dietary pattern and physical activity. One hundred and fifty children were selected purposively from the primary schools of Dhaka City. Dietary intake and energy expenditure of the study subjects were calculated by standard techniques. The proportion of childhood overweight and obesity was 52% and 20%. The daily intake of carbohydrate and protein was significantly (p < 0.05) higher among obese group. A higher proportion of overweight and obesity had been found in girls' children than their counter parts in this study. Positive energy balance with higher energy intake from carbohydrate and fast/processed food culture habit were found among primary school children of middle and upper-middle income group in the capital city of Bangladesh.