Physical activity correlates of overweight and obesity in school-going children of Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Background: Physical activity is important for prevention of overweight and obesity in growing children. Objective: The present study aims to explore the association of overweight and obesity in school children of the district of Dehradun with physical activity, sports, and recreation at home and sc...

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Main Authors: Madhavi Bhargava, S D Kandpal, Pradeep Aggarwal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016-01-01
Series:Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2016;volume=5;issue=3;spage=564;epage=568;aulast=Bhargava
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author Madhavi Bhargava
S D Kandpal
Pradeep Aggarwal
author_facet Madhavi Bhargava
S D Kandpal
Pradeep Aggarwal
author_sort Madhavi Bhargava
collection DOAJ
description Background: Physical activity is important for prevention of overweight and obesity in growing children. Objective: The present study aims to explore the association of overweight and obesity in school children of the district of Dehradun with physical activity, sports, and recreation at home and school. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1266 schoolchildren of select private and government schools in urban and rural areas was done. Results: Overall 15.6% of children were overweight, of which 5.4% were obese. Overweight and obesity were significantly associated with physical inactivity related to passive transport to school, missed opportunities for play during lunch breaks, lack of participation in household work, and excessive viewing of television. Conclusion: We found a significant association between the lack of physical activity and overweight and obesity. There is a need to enhance physical activity, sports, and recreational opportunities at school as well as home to prevent overweight and obesity in children. Family physicians should include counseling for this important and cheap modifiable risk factor in their family care practice.
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spelling doaj.art-9f2848a2ddc540ebac69de8097cec0e92022-12-21T20:38:02ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Family Medicine and Primary Care2249-48632016-01-015356456810.4103/2249-4863.197281Physical activity correlates of overweight and obesity in school-going children of Dehradun, UttarakhandMadhavi BhargavaS D KandpalPradeep AggarwalBackground: Physical activity is important for prevention of overweight and obesity in growing children. Objective: The present study aims to explore the association of overweight and obesity in school children of the district of Dehradun with physical activity, sports, and recreation at home and school. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1266 schoolchildren of select private and government schools in urban and rural areas was done. Results: Overall 15.6% of children were overweight, of which 5.4% were obese. Overweight and obesity were significantly associated with physical inactivity related to passive transport to school, missed opportunities for play during lunch breaks, lack of participation in household work, and excessive viewing of television. Conclusion: We found a significant association between the lack of physical activity and overweight and obesity. There is a need to enhance physical activity, sports, and recreational opportunities at school as well as home to prevent overweight and obesity in children. Family physicians should include counseling for this important and cheap modifiable risk factor in their family care practice.http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2016;volume=5;issue=3;spage=564;epage=568;aulast=BhargavaExerciseobesityoverweightsports and recreationtelevision
spellingShingle Madhavi Bhargava
S D Kandpal
Pradeep Aggarwal
Physical activity correlates of overweight and obesity in school-going children of Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
Exercise
obesity
overweight
sports and recreation
television
title Physical activity correlates of overweight and obesity in school-going children of Dehradun, Uttarakhand
title_full Physical activity correlates of overweight and obesity in school-going children of Dehradun, Uttarakhand
title_fullStr Physical activity correlates of overweight and obesity in school-going children of Dehradun, Uttarakhand
title_full_unstemmed Physical activity correlates of overweight and obesity in school-going children of Dehradun, Uttarakhand
title_short Physical activity correlates of overweight and obesity in school-going children of Dehradun, Uttarakhand
title_sort physical activity correlates of overweight and obesity in school going children of dehradun uttarakhand
topic Exercise
obesity
overweight
sports and recreation
television
url http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2016;volume=5;issue=3;spage=564;epage=568;aulast=Bhargava
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