Overweight and obesity and associated factors among school-aged adolescents in Thailand

The aim of this study was to assess overweight and obesity and associated factors in school-going adolescents in Thailand. Using data from the Thailand Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2008, we assessed the prevalence of overweight and obesity and its associated factors among adolescents (N=2758). Bivariate and multivariate analyses were applied to assess the relationship between dietary behaviour, substance use, physical activity, psychosocial factors, overweight and obesity. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was determined based on self-reported height and weight and the international child body mass index standards. Results indicate an overall prevalence of overweight and obesity of 10.0% and 4.4%, respectively, overweight 12.7% among boys and 7.6% among girls, and obesity 5.0% and 3.9% among girls and boys, respectively. Among boys younger age (12 years and younger), being physically inactive, sedentary behaviour and no history of illicit drug use were associated with obesity using bivariate and multivariate analysis, and among girls none of the variables (dietary behaviour, substance use, physical activity and psychosocial factors) was found to be associated with obesity. Moderate prevalence rates of overweight or obesity were found among adolescents in Thailand. Increasing physical activity participation should be the focus of strategies aimed at preventing and treating overweight and obesity in male youth.