Obesity in Primary School Children in Accra Metropolis

Abstract

Objectives:

To determine the prevalence and socio-demographic aspects of obesity in primary school children in Accra Metropolis. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted on sample of 1123 children aged 6-10 years attending primary schools who were selected by multistage sampling using school registers and listings o f primary schools by Accra M etropolitan Education Service. Setting: Four public and four private primary schools in Accra Metropolis. Subjects and Methods: In total, 1123 subjects (584 females and 539 males) participated. There was however 912 questionnaires available for further analysis. Socio-demographic data were obtained by self-administered questionnaire and measurements were made o f weight, height and triceps skin fold thickness. Results: The mean age for males was 8.43 years and that for females 8.41years (p<0.001).The mean weight for males was 26.8kg and that for females 27.8kg (p<0.001). The mean BMI for males was 16. lkg/m 2 and that for females 16.5kg/m2 (p<0.001). The mean skin fold thickness for males was 6.8mm and that for females 9.6mm (p<0.001). Crude prevalence of obesity (above 95 percentile) was 5% (by CDC- criteria 3.4%), prevalence o f risk o f overweight (above 85 and below 95 percenlile) was 10.2% (by CDC criteria 7% ) and prevalence o f underweight (below 5 percentile) was 4.8% (by CDC criteria 3.7%). The crude prevalence o f obesity by skin fold thickness distribution was 5.3%. The rates o f obesity (7% vs2.8%) and at risk o f overweight (12.3% vs 7.8%) were higher in females than males. There were more obese and at risk of overweight subjects in the private schools 9.6% and 14.1% than that in public schools 1.1% and 6.8%, respectively. Obesity and risk o f overweight were highest among Akan and Ewe tribes. Subjects o f parents with tertiary education were more obese and at risk of overweight than their counterparts of parents with lower educational level. Conclusion: Obesity does not yet appear to be a major problem in primary school children in Accra. A significant number, a tenth o f the children, were at risk o f overweight category. There was co- existence o f obesity and underw eight Economic status appeared to be an important determinant o f nutritional status. Female gender, Akan ethnical group, private schools and higher school fees, tertiary education o f the parents were associated w ith higher levels o f obesity and overweight. Further work is needed to ascertain the real reasons for observed differences.