FAMILY STATUS: A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TOWARDSCHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENT OBESITY

Abstract

Background: Obesity in children and adolescents is gradually becoming a majorpublic health problem in many developing countries, including India. Familiesespecially working mothers have fewer free moments to spend with children and toprepare nutritious and home-cooked meals. From traditional foods to fast foods andquick to easy foods have significant relationship with childhood obesity.Materials and Methods: A multistage random cluster sampling procedure wasused to draw sample from this region. Children and adolescents aged 10-19 yearswere selected randomly for questioning regarding the different aspects ofepidemiology and their health examination was done.Results and Discussion: In the present study 24.71% children were living in jointfamily while 75.29% living in nuclear family and the prevalence obesity anddiabetes was more in the children who were part of the nuclear family. 23.19%mothers of the studied subjects were working.Conclusion: This study identified the role of mother’s occupation and time spent byparents with children with wrong eating habits and physical inactivity.Sensitization of parents is one of the curative measures to curtail this rising threat ofobesity.