Introduction: Obesity has increased in developed countries and is also increasing in the developing countries involving all ages including children. Studies undertaken in metropolitan cities of Pakistan had revealed an increased incidence of obesity in school children. This study was undertaken to know about prevalence of obesity in school children of Sialkot city by measuring body mass index (BMI), an indicator of obesity. Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional. Period: From November 2017 to January 2018. Setting: Two private schools were selected in Sialkot city. One school belonged to lower middle socio economic status (LMSE). Methodology: Students of classes 6 to 8, one from lower middle socioeconomic status (LMSE) school and other from higher socioeconomic status (HSE) school were included. Consent was taken, data was collected by questionnaire. Height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated and interpreted according to World Health Organization (WHO) sex specific BMI for age percentile charts. Results: 520 students were included in the study. 15.2% were obese, 22.1% were overweight, 5.2% were thin, 2.9% were severely thin and 54.6% were normal. 18.5% of students were obese in HSE School compared to 10.6% in LMSE School. 16.9% (n 52/307) of males and 12.7% (n 27/213) females were obese. Significant association of obesity was found with decreased exercise, increased screen time and consuming energy dense junk foods. Conclusion: Obesity and overweight are markedly high in Sialkot as compared to other studies in Pakistan. Stress should be given on prevention by education of students and parents. Healthy dietary habits and healthy living style should be promoted.

Background: Anaemia is nutritional deficiency disorder which is very commonin developed countries and related with inauspicious maternal and perinatal outcome. Itsprevalence in pregnancy is about 50-80% in Pakistan. It is a risk element for low iron stores inbabies, preterm delivery, foetal anaemia, low birth weight as well as stillbirth. Objectives: Todetermine the frequency of low iron store in babies born to iron deficient mothers and effectof maternal anaemia on newborn weight and cord haemoglobin. Study Design: Prospectiveobservational study. Setting: Government Sardar Begum Hospital Sialkot. Period: 1st January2017 to 30th June 2017. Materials and Methods: 160 pregnant women delivering for antenataland haemoglobin as well as weight of newborn babies, which was entered in computer softwareSPSS version 20. Results: Out of 160 mothers, 143 (89.37%) were anaemic. Out of 160 babies,127 (79.37%) of babies had anaemia. The mean haemoglobin among babies was 12.9±2.01 g/dL. Conclusion: A notable positive correlation with maternal haemoglobin and newborn weightand cord haemoglobin.

Anaemia is common reason of morbidity and mortality in children especially inthird world countries. 300 million children had anaemia globally in 2011. Nutritional IDA (irondeficiency anemia) is a most common anaemia especially in children as well as women.1Severe anaemia was present in 5.4% of anaemic children (62.1%) in national nutritional survey2011.1 Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is also a most common cause of childhood anaemia inPakistan. Factors causing anaemia are multiple including poverty, illiteracy and poor dietaryhabits. Objective: To know about the awareness of severe anaemia in children by their parentsand effect of various risk factors causing severe anaemia. Study Design: Prospective crosssectional study. Setting: Paediatric OPD Islam Teaching Hospital, Sialkot. Period: Jan 2016 toJune 2017. Methods: Children who came to paediatric OPD of Islam Teaching Hospital, havingpallor were investigated for level of haemoglobin (Hb). Those included in this study were havingHb% < 7 gm/dl and parents were interviewed according to a questionnaire. Results: Only23% of parents were aware of anaemia in their children. Inadequate or no weaning was seen in95% of patients. 26% of children were underweight, had weight for age (WAZ) score less than-2 according to WHO standards. 83% of mothers were educated up to matric. All the childrenhad markedly low mean corpuscular volume (MCV). 72% of children were 24 months old orbelow. 80% of children were taking cows/buffalos milk. Conclusion: Age less than 24 months,poor socioeconomic status, lower education qualification of mother, poor weaning habits wereassociated with increased chances of severe anaemia and parents had poor awareness ofpallor/anaemia in children.

… Background: Anaemia is nutritional deficiency disorder which is very common in developed countries and related with inauspicious maternal and perinatal outcome. Its prevalence in pregnancy is about 50-80% in Pakistan. It is a risk element for low iron stores in babies, preterm delivery, foetal anaemia, low birth weight as well as stillbirth. Objectives: To determine the frequency of low iron store in babies born to iron deficient mothers and effect of maternal anaemia on newborn weight and cord haemoglobin. Study Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: Government Sardar Begum Hospital Sialkot. Period: 1 st January 2017 to 30 th June 2017. Materials and Methods: 160 pregnant women delivering for antenatal and haemoglobin as well as weight of newborn babies, which was entered in computer software SPSS version 20. Results: Out of 160 mothers, 143 (89.37%) were anaemic. Out of 160 babies, 127 (79.37%) of babies had anaemia. The mean haemoglobin among babies was 12.9±2.01 g/ dL. Conclusion: A notable positive correlation with maternal haemoglobin and newborn weight and cord haemoglobin.

Anaemia is common reason of morbidity and mortality in children especially in third world countries. 300 million children had anaemia globally in 2011. Nutritional IDA (iron deficiency anemia) is a most common anaemia especially in children as well as women. 1 Severe anaemia was present in 5.4% of anaemic children (62.1%) in national nutritional survey 2011. 1 Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is also a most common cause of childhood anaemia in Pakistan. Factors causing anaemia are multiple including poverty, illiteracy and poor dietary habits. Objective: To know about the awareness of severe anaemia in children by their parents and effect of various risk factors causing severe anaemia. Study Design: Prospective cross sectional study. Setting: Paediatric OPD Islam Teaching Hospital, Sialkot. Period: Jan 2016 to June 2017. Methods: Children who came to paediatric OPD of Islam Teaching Hospital, having pallor were investigated for level of haemoglobin (Hb). Those included in this study were having Hb% < 7 gm/dl and parents were interviewed according to a questionnaire. Results: Only 23% of parents were aware of anaemia in their children. Inadequate or no weaning was seen in 95% of patients. 26% of children were underweight, had weight for age (WAZ) score less than-2 according to WHO standards. 83% of mothers were educated up to matric. All the children had markedly low mean corpuscular volume (MCV). 72% of children were 24 months old or below. 80% of children were taking cows/buffalos milk. Conclusion: Age less than 24 months, poor socioeconomic status, lower education qualification of mother, poor weaning habits were associated with increased chances of severe anaemia and parents had poor awareness of pallor/anaemia in children.