Food, exercise and life style changes among overweight or obese children in urban population

Authors

  • Santosh Kumar K. Department of Neonatology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  • H. T. Yashoda Department of Pediatrics, KIMS, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
  • Mohan Kumar N. Department of Pediatrics, KIMS, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
  • Srinivasa S. Department of Pediatrics, KIMS, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20150975

Keywords:

Body mass index, International obesity task force, Metabolic syndrome, Coronary artery disease, CDC, IPAQ

Abstract

Background: Obesity is an important public health problem associated with risk of complications in childhood and increased mortality and morbidity in adulthood.Obesity, which was once considered as a symbol of status and wealth in some cultures is now seen as a public health crisis. In India, the available studies suggest that overweight and obesity is 8.5-29.5% and 15-7.4% respectively among school children between 6-18 years from middle and higher socio economic group. Studies have clearly demonstrated that diet and exercise improve glycemic control and some patients with diabetes treated with diet and exercise alone enter a sustained remission state lasting up to 5 years.

Methods: Descriptive study was done at tertiary care center, Bangalore involving two urban schools during the period of 1 year between the age group of 10-18 years. The subjects were selected by using purposive sampling procedure keeping in view the operational feasibility.

Results: 187 subjects were enrolled for study after informed consent taken. In the study population 88 were overweight and 99 were obese. The mean BMI of overweight was 24.6 ± 1.5 and obese were 28.8 ± 1.9. In the study population questions regarding adequate fiber intake none consumed green leafy or vegetable soup/stew at least once in a week, which is rich in fiber content. Only 12% consumed fresh fruit juices 4-6 times a week and 26% consumed fruits frequently. Fat intake, 50% consumed fried food items at least 2-3 times/month. 59% of them consumed Pizza, soft drinks and tinned foods at least 2-3 times/month. 38% of them consumed butter on bread or potatoes 2-3 times/month. Level of physical activity 52.9% did mild physical activity, 28.8 % did moderate and 18.1% did severe physical activity.

Conclusions: Overweight/obese subjects should be educated regarding their dietary habits. Food items containing rich fiber source intake should be increased and fat intake should be reduced. Regular physical activity should be incorporated.

References

Sheila Gahagan. Obesity. In: Sheila Gahagan, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. South Asia: Elsevier; 2012:179-191.

World Health Organization. Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic, 2000. Available at: http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/obesity/WHO_TRS_894/en. Accessed 15 October 2014.

Shetty PS. Childhood obesity in developing societies. NFI Bull. 1999;20(2):1-8.

Zanetti MA, Padua I, Branco LM, Machado HC, Fisberg M. Body mass index percentiles in adolescents of the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and their comparison with international parameters. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol. 2010;54:295-302.

Webber LS, Cresanta JL, Croft JB, Srinivasan SR, Berenson GS. Transitions of cardiovascular risk from adolescence to young adulthood - the Bogalusa Heart Study: II. Alterations in anthropometric blood pressure and serum lipoprotein variables. J Chronic Dis. 1986;39:91-103.

Srihari G, Eilander A, Muthayya S, Kurpad AV, Seshadri S. Nutritional status of affluent Indian school children. What and how much do we know? Indian Pediatr. 2007;44:204-13.

Ramachandran A, Snehalatha C, Vinitha R, Thayyil M, Kumar CK, Sheeba L, et al. Prevalence of overweight in urban Indian adolescent school children. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2002;57(3):185-90.

Ebe D’Adamo, Nicola Santoro, Sonia Caprio. Metabolic syndrome in pediatrics: old concepts revised, new concepts discussed. Pediatr Clin N Am. 2011;58:1241-55.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trends in intake of energy and macronutrients - United States, 1971-2000. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep (MMWR). 2004;53:80-82.

Berenson GS, Agirbasli M, Nguyen QM, Chen W, Srinivasan SR. Glycemic status, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular risk in children. Med Clin N Am. 2011;95(2):409-17.

Harish Ranjani, Jagadeshan Sonya, Ranjit M. Anjana, Vishwanathan Mohan. Prevalence of Glucose Intolerance among children and adolescents in urban South India. Diabetes Technol Therapeut. 2013;15(1):13-9.

Shaitin S, Abrahami M, Ilios P, Philip M. Insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance in obese children and adolescents referred to a tertiary care center in Israel. Int J Obes. 2005;29:571-8.

Sinha R, Fisch G, Teague B, Tamborlane WV, Banyas B, Allen K, et al. Prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance among children and adolescents with marked obesity. N Engl J Med. 2002;346(11):802-10.

Keskin M, Kurtoglu S, Kendirci M, Atabek ME, Yazici C. Homeostatic model assessment is more reliable than the fasting glucose/insulin ratio and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index for assessing Insulin resistance among obese children and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2004;115(4):e500-3.

Kuriyan R, Thomas T, Sumithra S, Lokesh DP, Sheth NR, Joy R, et al. Potential factors related to waist circumference in urban south Indian children. Indian Pediatr. 2012;49:124-8.

Downloads

Published

2017-01-04

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles