Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recent statistics on the alarming rate of obesity growth have led to a great deal of media attention to the problem. Historically, obesity has only been linked to adults, and it becomes more prevalent as people get older. However, childhood obesity is currently on the rise due to children's sedentary lives brought on by a number of situations. Childhood obesity is more common than ever before, and managing it is getting harder. The situation is becoming so bad, in fact, that some are beginning to fear that the children of today will live shorter lives than their ancestors have for millennia.
AIM: To evaluate the health effects of overweight and obesity on preschoolers and school-age children
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Since the researcher knew the area well and had built a solid rapport with the school administration, the study was carried out in the pediatrics department. Furthermore, there was no information available on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in this area's preschoolers, school-age children, and teenagers. Children between the ages of three and twelve were chosen by the researcher for the investigation. A total of 1800 participants were examined to determine the prevalence of obesity and overweight in the 3–12 age range. 480 of the 1800 school-age survey participants were overweight, and 130 were obese.
RESULT: Based on the preceding chart, it can be deduced that 2.13 percent of obese girls and 3.11 percent of obese boys among the chosen subjects were between the ages of three and five. Six to eight-year-olds accounted for 2.95 percent of obesity females and 6.06 percent of obese boys. In the 9–12 age range, 3.77 percent of obese girls and 5.08 percent of obese males were found.
CONCLUSION: The contemporary obesity epidemic is the result of a culture that promotes overindulgence in food and discourages physical activity. Obesity can be prevented by eating a low-fat, low-energy diet, exercising frequently, and controlling portion sizes. However, in the current environment, it is becoming more and more difficult to acquire and maintain these habits.
KEYWORDS: Childhood, Adolescent, Diet, Overweight and Obesity