BACKGROUNDChildhood obesity is increasing in prevalence in developing countries. We conducted this study to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in primary school children age 7 to 13 years in central Iraq and to identify possible risk factors.METHODSThe study was conducted in Babil governorate from October through March 2002. Eight thousand three hundred pupils (4100 girls and 4200 boys) randomly chosen primary schools were included in the study. BMI was measured and compared to standard tables. Information on possible risk factors was collected by questionnaire.RESULTSThe prevalence of overweight and obesity was 6% and 1.3%, respectively. Significant associations were found between overweight and age, residency (urban-rural), birth rank, breast-feeding and certain dietary and lifestyle practices.CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of obesity and overweight is relatively high in children in central Iraq. Modern dietary habits are an important influence in the development of childhood obesity that should be watched carefully and controlled.

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Increase the amount of gases emission and construction materials waste was lead to increased interest to used recycled materials in building projects. In this research the effect and interaction of used recycle cement mortar as aggregate to replaced natural aggregate (sand) on cement mortar properties with variable curing time and constant water to cement ratio (W/C = 0.5) used is studied. Four group of cement mortar were produced (M0, M25, M50, M100) with different recycled aggregate weight percentage (0, 25, 50, and 100). The compressive strength, density, water absorption and porosity percentage were tested. The results shows the compressive strength and density were decreased with recycle aggregate percentage increment in cement mortar composition, while, the water absorption and porosity percentage increased with recycle aggregate percentage increment in cement mortar ,. The lower compressive strength and density obtained in M100 samples were 26.08 MPa, 1.83 g/cm 3 , while; the higher compressive strength and density obtained in M0 samples were 32.95 MPa, 2.28 g/cm 3 , respectively. the higher water absorption and porosity percentage obtained in M100 samples were 12.05, 18.08, while; the lower water absorption and porosity percentage obtained in M0 samples were 7.86, 15.25, respectively.

This study was involving the dispersion method of nano-materials replacement and the interaction with cement mortar behavior for many mortar samples under variable curing time ,with constant water to cement ratio (W/C=0.45) .Some mechanical properties such as (compressive, flexural strength and hardness tests) was studied. The main parameters are depending on the small amount replacement ratio of nano-particle (ZrO2) with respect to the mass of the cement (OPC) type (I). The addition of nano-material by replacement on the mixture of mortar includes (1, 2, 3,4and 5%) with constant W/C ratio and also the amount of the fine aggregate use is 2.75 from the amount of cement. The results show that, the strength of the mortar  that consist from colloidal nano materials give better properties than from both mortar with dry nano-materials replacement and without nano-materials in all test, But the nano-Zirconia materials give good properties up to 2% in all  tests compared with control cement mortar.