Determination of primary school children's obesity prevalence and investigation of risk factors, in Duzce

Objective: This research aimed to determine the childhood obesity prevalence and risk factors involved in the development of obesity in the central district of Duzce Province. Materials and methods: The research's type was nested case control. The universe of the research's was 3131 second grade students in 81 Elementary School in the central district of Duzce Province. The sample size was calculated to be 1214 and stratified into urban and rural. Anthropometric measurements were made in 1245 second grade students selected by cluster sampling method in 10 Elementary School in the central district of Duzce Province. BMI Z-Score by Age (BAZ) +2 and over 126 students (obese) were enrolled as case group, BAZ -2 to +2, 126 students who were randomly selected in the same class, same number and same gender were in the control group. Datas collected with questionnaire from the case and the control group's families. The data in the survey were evaluated with WHO AntroPlus and with a statistical software package. p<0.05 was considered significant in the analysis. Results: 654 (52.5%) were male and 591 (47.5%) were girls; 1083 (87%) were studying in urban schools, 162 (13%) were in rural schools of 1245 participating students. The prevalence of obesity was found. 10.1% (126 students). Five students (0.4%) were severe thinness, 37 (3%) were thinness, 886 (71.2%) were normal and 191 (15.3%) were found as overweight. According to gender and settlement "severe thinness, thinness, normal, overweight and obese " status were not found statistically significant (p> 0.05). In the evaluation of height; 4 (0.3%) were much longer, 56 (4.5%) were long, 1180 (94.8%) were normal, 5 (0.4%) were found stunted (short). The second phase of the study; 126 of the control group and 124 of the case group from 250 student's parents were attended. All of the controls and %98.4 of the case group were reached. According to those who eats breakfast regularly; usually it made 3.67 times (p=0.006), those who regularly doesn't eat lunch at 3:52 fold (p=0.001), those who eat fast food 2:38 fold (p=0.016) were more risky. According to gladness of chid's body weight by parents; on the contrary glad group; with moderate glad group 24.13 fold (p<0.001), not satisfied group 47.11-fold (p<0.001), and not satisfied at all times group was 39.38 fold (p=0.001) more risky for obesity. Born weight over 4000 grams were 12.02-fold (p=0.002) more risky than under 2500 grams. If the number of obese people in the student's first-degree relatives have increased the risk of obesity was increasing.(OR 1.38, p=0.008) Conclusion and Recommendations: In this study the prevalence of obesity in Düzce was higher than in region of the NUTS and Turkey. The birth weights of the children, the number of obese people in the family, eating habits and children's body weight dissatisfaction by parents affects development of obesity one by one. Based on the results of this study children and their families should be educated about nutrition and the evaluation of body weight. KeyWords: Overweight, ChildhoodObesity, Risk Factors, Prevalence.