Risk factors associated with obesity in children age 6-12 years in nutritional clinic at security forces hospital in Riyadh city

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Masters Degree in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, February 2008Obesity in children is now one of the most widespread medical problems. Obese children are more likely to be obese adults. Increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity is an important public health problem contributing to significant excess in morbidity and mortality (ITFO., 2004a). Obesity generally is defined as an excess amount of body fat. That means the body mass index (BMI) is above 30 for adults. Modified BMI for age was used to define obesity in children, BMI >85 percentiles is considered as overweight, BMI > 95 percentiles is considered as obese, where as the normal weight range is between 5% - >85% and under weight is below 5% (Hamill et al., 1976, Summerbell et al., 2005). Obesity during childhood is associated with a number of cardiovascular risk factors, including hyperinsulinism and insulin resistance, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, reduced levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL), and hypertension (Weiss et al, 2004). The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children has increased markedly in the last 2 decades in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) (Farghaly et al., 2007). Many different factors contribute to the development of obesity mainly the imbalance between calorie intake or consumption, and energy expenditure beside the genetic factors. Obese parents may have obese children due to shared genes and environment such as availability of certain energy rich food and decreased exercise and physical activities (Robert et al., 2000). The tendency towards obesity is fostered by lack of physical activity combined with high-calorie, low-cost foods. Low activity levels and excessive television watching, were strongly related to overweight status (Rose and Bodor 2006)