Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...

Project No. 200 (C-2002/3)Prevalence and Correlates of Childhood Overweight and Obesity in Al Ain cityStudent Authors: Shaikha Atiq Abdulrahman A. Al-Atiq, Afra Rashed Saeed Ali Al-Neyadi, Tahani Saleh Saeed Abdulla Al-KayoumiFaculty Supervisors: Dr. A.G. Nicol, Dr. A. CarterAbstract:Objectives To determine the prevalence of obesity and overweight in children 8-26months in Al Ain city and its association with a number of factors.Methods A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted in Al Ain city in vaccinationand baby clinics. The study included 90 healthy children. Anthropometricalmeasurements of the children were taken and their mothers were interviewed. Theinternational standard growth charts were used to define obesity and overweight, theweight for height percentile charts were used. Children who have value above the95th percentile are considered obese and those between 85th and 95th are consideredoverweight. SPSS was used for data management and chi-square test was used totest the results for significance.Results The study found that the prevalence of overweight and obesity is 8.9% and14.4% respectively. it was found to be associated with a higher monthly familyincome. High percentage (88.9%) of mothers chose to breastfeed their children,however, the duration was highly variable. More obese and overweight children werefound in families with higher monthly income (p=0.03). Another association wasfound between the occupation of the mother and the choice of the mode of milkfeeding in early months of life. 95% of the mothers who stay at home had everbreastfed their children while 72% of those who were working had ever breast-fedtheir children. (p=0.004). Under estimation of the child’s weight was also commonamong mothers. About 50% of mothers had introduced the solid food before therecommended age. In addition, unhealthy type of food like soft drinks, fries andcandies were highly consumed among some children.Conclusion Overweight and obesity is fairly common in children as it is among adults.Unsound feeding patterns are common, like the early introduction of solid food andhigh consumption of unhealthy food. Underweight is also a common problem.Education of the mothers is needed to improve mothers’ attitudes and knowledgetoward healthy children and infants feeding patterns.