Underweight and overweight are serious health concerns for many children and could be associated with low physical-fitness levels. This study aimed (i) to evaluate the prevalence of underweight and overweight and (ii) to examine its association with the physical fitness levels in primary male and female schoolchildren. Including 13 government primary-schools, a cross-sectional survey was conducted between 2014 and 2017. Anthropometric characteristics together with the physical-fitness level were measured in 931 schoolchildren aged between 6- and 11-years old. The prevalence of under- and overweight children were 8.49% and 24.06%, respectively. These proportions were not significantly different between males and females and were affected by age (p < 0.001), with a higher prevalence of overweight and a lower prevalence of underweight at 9-11 years, compared to 6-8 years old. Concerning the physical fitness levels, statistical analysis showed a better performance among males compared to females, among participants aged 9-11 years, compared to 6-8 years old, and among underweight and normal-weight, compared to overweight children (p < 0.001). There was a higher prevalence of overweight and lower prevalence of underweight at 9-11 years compared to 6-8 years old. Physical fitness levels were better in (i) males, compared to females, (ii) schoolchildren aged 9-11 years, compared to 6-8 years old, and (iii) underweight and normal-weight, compared to overweight children.

/pdf/prevalence-of-underweight-and-overweight-and-its-association-4rpgnjs50u.pdf

Prevalence of Underweight and Overweight and Its Association with Physical Fitness in Egyptian Schoolchildren.

This review aimed primarily to investigate the current trends of overweight and obesity in school children in the African context, secondly to explore the contribution of home and school environments on the children's food choices and lastly suggesting measures for creating a healthier food environment. Despite the increase in overweight and obesity among school children, empirical evidence on their determinants in the African context is scarce, thus calls for consideration of home and school environments. A literature search was conducted between October and December 2018 using Medline (PubMed), Directory of Open Access Journals, Google Scholar, manual search and "grey" literature. This review included articles published between the 1st January 2008 and 30th June 2018. Out of 343 articles, 49 were included for the full text reading after meeting the inclusion criteria. Five reports from grey literature were also included. Results show that the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school children in Africa is increasing and ranges from 40% in the 10-year period in which the review was taken. High socio-economic status, urban residence and female gender predicted higher prevalence of overweight/obesity. Few reviewed articles on the contribution of home and school environments on children's food choices showed a shred of evidence, thus calls for further research to address this gap. This review found an increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in school children in Africa. Therefore, further investigation of home and school environment is imperative to curb the increase in the magnitude of overweight and obesity.

/pdf/contribution-of-home-and-school-environment-in-children-s-wvvn57835m.pdf

Contribution of Home and School Environment in Children's Food Choice and Overweight/Obesity Prevalence in African Context: Evidence for Creating Enabling Healthful Food Environment.

Nutritional status is a primary determinant of a child’s health and well-being; Malnutrition negatively influences physical and mental development. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of stunting, overweight and obesity among primary school children in Behera Governorate, Egypt. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 2027 students. Anthropometric profile was assessed by calculating height for age, weight for age and BMI for age and gender Z scores. The prevalence of stunting and severely stunting growth were (11.3% and 1.15%). It was significantly associated with rural location, poorly educated mothers and birth order≥ 4. Thinness, overweight and obesity were (4.5%, 11% and 8.2%).

Prevalence of Stunting, Overweight and Obesity among Egyptian Primary School Children in Behera Governorate

Being overweight and obese in adolescence are significant global public health issues which threaten the viability of basic healthcare delivery in many countries. The number of affected adolescents is growing at an alarming rate. Behavioural treatment, which refers to a set of principles and techniques designed to help people reverse maladaptive eating and activity habits, has become a crucial part of most programmes designed to address overweight and obesity. This article outlines three steps involved in the behavioural treatment of overweight and obesity in adolescents: antecedents, eating behaviour and the consequences of eating behaviour. Regular and consistent daily recording of food intake and the individual's activities are foundations of behavioural management, and should form part of the nursing care plan.

Behavioural approaches to treating overweight and obesity in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: In developing countries, overweight among children becomes an alarming problem and a health concern. Obesity is a factor in disease severity of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) having the greatest impact on patients.
AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight in some of the Egyptian governmental primary school children, its nutritional and socioeconomic determinants. Special focus was directed to identify the current dietary practices including risky nutritional habits of overweight children as a weak point leading to increasing their vulnerability to catching COVID-19 infection.
METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on primary school children aged 6–12 years. General demographic data, socioeconomic data, dietary pattern, intake of a diversity of nutrient-rich food versus calorie-dense food, and anthropometrical data were collected.
RESULTS: Of 1600 child, there were 8% overweight who are considered at risk of COVID-19 infection. Considering the weekly share of the stomach, only one-third of the food consumed by overweight children is nutrient-rich, with high consumption of French fries and Candies (once per day among 95% and 78 % of overweight children, respectively). Moreover, 90% of them consume sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) more than once per day. The majority of overweight children belonged to small, middle- income families, and had illiterate or read and write mothers.
CONCLUSION: Overweight children eat narrow diversity of nutrient-rich food that includes vegetables, fruits, protein, and dairy products. They eat more calorie-dense foods, every day. The increase of family income increased the likelihood of having overweight children with a high intake of SSB, candies, and chips; consumption of snacks between meals and before sleep. Protective predictors against overweight were highly educated mothers, taking breakfast before school, having dinner, and taking meals on time.
RECOMMENDATION: Nutritional behavioral education aiming at choosing nutritious and varied options of food that is effective for improving children’s nutritional status is the key to decreasing vulnerability toward COVID 19.

/pdf/vulnerability-and-weaknesses-of-eating-habits-of-overweight-2l0tg5od4a.pdf

Vulnerability and weaknesses of eating habits of overweight school children as an entry risk for covid-19

Background: Continually rising prevalence of obesity and overweight in children and adolescents is a major public health concern. This is due to its various and serious health hazards on one side and its preventable nature on the other side. This study aims at identification of prevalence of overweight and obesity and its risk factors among children between 6 - 14 years of age in Sohag, Egypt. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted on 711 school children between 6 - 14 years in four months’ period from February to May 2016. Weight and height of the studied children were measured to calculate BMI, which was compared with standard Egyptian growth charts for determining overweight and obesity. Then a questionnaire containing data about socio demographic, parental obesity, early life and dietary risk factors was completed by the children’s parents. Result: Out of 711 studied children, 117 (16.5%) were overweight and 104 (14.6%) were obese. Residing in urban area, having an obese parent or both of them, low level of maternal education, being on formula feeding during early life and lack of fresh vegetables and fruits in diets were significant risk factors for overweight and obesity in the studied children (P value < 0.05). Conclusion: Improperly educated mothers together with sedentary life style manifested in obesity among the parents and lack of sport practice among children constituted the majors risk factors for childhood obesity. This emphasizes the need for increased health awareness of the community about the importance of proper nutrition and physical activity.

/pdf/prevalence-and-correlates-of-overweight-and-obesity-among-1cxrkpnwu4.pdf

Eman Soliman Mohammed

Papers

Prevalence and Correlates of Overweight and Obesity among School Children in Sohag, Egypt

The Effects Of Repeated Low-Dose Exposure To Chlorpyrifos On Cognitive Functions And Potential Non-Cholinergic Mechanisms