Abstract
The escalating prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents presents significant public health challenges globally, including in Pakistan. Various external factors, such as parental, peer, school, and community influences, play a critical role in shaping children’s health behaviors during their developmental years. This study assesses the current prevalence rates of overweight and obesity and examines their association with physical activity behavior and food intake among Pakistani school-aged children and adolescents aged 9 to 17 years. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sampling approach with 4200 Pakistani schoolchildren aged 9 to 17 years from 62 schools across seven districts in central Punjab province. Body mass index (BMI) percentiles were calculated using CDC US 2000 standards, and the Chi-square test and Pearson correlation coefficient were employed for analysis. The study found significant associations between physical activity frequency, walking or riding a bike frequency, participation in sports teams, and the likelihood of being overweight or obese among Pakistani school-aged children and adolescents. Additionally, lower physical education class frequency was associated with a higher likelihood of obesity. The study highlights the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Pakistani school-aged children and adolescents and its association with socio-ecological factors. Understanding these risk factors is crucial for developing effective policies and interventions to address childhood obesity in Pakistan. The findings underscore the importance of implementing targeted intervention strategies and public health initiatives to combat this growing health concern.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Youth, BMI, Sports, Physical Activity, Physical Education
