Prevalence of Obesity in Primary School Students and its Relation to Watching TV in Arar City

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of obesity and overweight in children has risen in both males and females. Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among female primary school students (7-12years old) in Arar city, 2018, and explore its association with watching television. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, including 330 girls, using the multistage cluster sampling technique. Parents completed a structured questionnaire about demographic characteristics and lifestyle factors (diet and physical activity). Every child's body weight and height were measured and plotted on Growth charts for female Saudi children. Data were collected during the first semester of 2018 Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 15.9%, 9.6% had a family history of obesity, about 91.7% of the students consume ≤3 meals but 8.3% consume >3 meals daily. 15% of them eat fast food in two and more of their daily meals. The daily time of video games was >2 hours in 37.6%. 32.8% were watching TV alone away from parents. Only 44.6% of girls practice physical exercise. There was significant relation (P<0.05) between obesity, fast food consumption, frequency of daily meals, watching TV alone away from parents, physical inactivity, daily time of video games, and family history of obesity. Conclusion: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among primary school girls was considerable. They have bad dietary habits and lack physical exercise. Family physicians counseling of parent on national education is recommended to educate girls on healthy lifestyle.