A REVIEW OF EXISTING LITERATURE ON THE PREVALENCE OF OBESITY AMONG CHILDREN

ABSTRACT 

This research reviewed the existing literature pertaining to the effect of socioeconomic status on obesity rates in adolescents.  Specifically, this research examined whether male and female adolescents of low socioeconomic status were more likely to become obese than male and female adolescents of high socioeconomic status, respectively. The prevalence of obesity among children has almost tripled in the past thirty years, and the associated increase in co-morbidities has produced a need for aggressive weight management interventions (Kirk, Scotland Daniels.2005).  Several factors can point to a definitive reason for the increase in obesity rates among adolescents.  Lack of community resources such as playgrounds and parks along with lack of recreational programmes and equipment are a few possibilities for the increase in adolescent obesity.  Socioeconomic status, a measure of an individual or families wealth, is one of the most likely sources of high obesity rates in adolescents, with underlying factors as well. Eight studies were used for analysis and comparison of socioeconomic status and obesity rates in adolescents.  Descriptive statistics and effect size were used to compare the data from the studies.  The focus of the research was to determine if there were differences in body mass index among adolescents based on their socioeconomic status.  Based on the literature and the data sample examined, it was found that male adolescents from low socioeconomic backgrounds were more likely to be obese than males from high socioeconomic backgrounds.  In a similar pattern, females from low socioeconomic backgrounds were more likely to be obese than females from high socioeconomic backgrounds.