Factors Associated With Body Mass Index in Children – A Community-Based Study

Abstract

Objectives: The increasing prevalence of overweight, obesity, and underweight in children has implications for their future health and it is vital to understand the modifiable factors that contribute to it. The study’s main objective is to determine the factors associated with the body mass index in children.
 Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 346 school children over a period of 6 months. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaire. Physical measurements such as height and weight were obtained from parents. Body mass index was calculated using kg/m2. Children were categorized as overweight, obese, normal, and underweight using their body mass index scores and the factors associated with BMI in children were estimated.
 Results: The prevalence of overweight, obesity, normal, and underweight among children was 10.40%, 17.92%, 24.28%, and 41.67%, respectively. Intake of fast food, sweetened beverages, junk food, and consumption of food while watching television, media time indicated a significant relationship with body mass index.
 Conclusion: Health care professionals should educate parents and children regarding healthy nutrition and regular physical activity. The implications of obesity, overweight, and underweight should be well explained to make desirable lifestyle modifications for a better future.

RETRACTED: Screen Time and Body Mass Index Among Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Moreover, different obesity measurements are used in different studies like body mass index (BMI), fat mass and waist circumference. While it has been reported that BMI is one of the simplest and extensively used screening tool for child and adult obesity and it is not only used as an outcome measure for determining obesity but also as a useful anthropometric index for cardiovascular risk ( 30 ). Also, because of its simplicity, BMI is a standard tool to diagnose overweight/obesity as declared by WHO ( 6 , 31 ).…”

The association between screen use and central obesity among children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends children and adolescents to have at least one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day and vigorous-intensity physical activity at least three times per week [4]. Nonetheless, nowadays, the time spent actively is increasingly being replaced by screenbased media, and screen time has increased in both children and adolescents with a pronounced role in obesity promotion worldwide [5][6][7][8].…”