PREVALENCE OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY IN ADOLESCENTS OF URBAN & RURAL AREA OF SURAT, GUJARAT

Abstract

Background: The present study in prevalence of overweight and obesity among urban & rural adolescents in Surat (Gujarat, India).

Methods: The data were derived from cross-sectional sampling of children, 176 in rural and 213 in urban, aged 14–16 years doing study in government schools in year of 2009. Age, gender and body mass index (BMI) were used to define overweight and obesity.

Result: The prevalence of obesity increased significantly from 12.8% in rural to 14.6% in urban (p<0.01), whereas underweight decreased from 13.6% to 4.6% (p<0.001). There was a significantly higher risk of being overweight and obese in urban than rural, after adjusting for age, gender. Urban Males had significantly higher increase in prevalence and risk of being overweight and obese.

Conclusion: This study showed an increasing in prevalence of overweight and obesity in urban adolescents especially with male gender, calling for an urgent need for immediate and targeted preventive measures.