Central obesity is a burden even in normal weight adolescents of a non-metropolitan Indian City: A case for alarm and action for prevention and control

Introduction: Central obesity (CO) leads to increased cardiovascular and metabolic risks in children and adolescents. The evidence on prevalence of central obesity and its correlates are lacking among adolescents in India. Objectives: (1) To estimate the prevalence of central obesity in school-going...

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Main Authors: Tabassum Nawab, Zulfia Khan, Iqbal M. Khan, Mohammad A. Ansari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_967_24
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author Tabassum Nawab
Zulfia Khan
Iqbal M. Khan
Mohammad A. Ansari
author_facet Tabassum Nawab
Zulfia Khan
Iqbal M. Khan
Mohammad A. Ansari
author_sort Tabassum Nawab
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Central obesity (CO) leads to increased cardiovascular and metabolic risks in children and adolescents. The evidence on prevalence of central obesity and its correlates are lacking among adolescents in India. Objectives: (1) To estimate the prevalence of central obesity in school-going adolescents, (2) To determine the association between central obesity and generalized obesity (GO) among adolescents, and (3) To determine the correlates of central obesity. Methods: Totally, 660 adolescents, selected using systematic random sampling, in four urban schools in Aligarh were interviewed using pre-designed questionnaire and Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Height, weight, and waist circumference (WC) were measured. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. CO was defined as >90th age-and-sex-specific percentile of WC and GO by BMI-for-age-and-sex percentiles given by WHO Growth Reference 2007. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were done using IBM SPSS version 20.0. Results: Overall prevalence of central obesity was found to be 28.5% [CI: 25.2-32.0], almost double of generalized obesity (14.6%, 95%CI: 12.1-17.6). The prevalence was significantly higher among girls (33.6%, 95%CI: 28.3-39.3) than in boys (24.7%, 95%CI: 20.7-29.3) and in the affluent group (38.8%, 95%CI: 33.7-44.1) than in non-affluent (18.2%, 95%CI: 14.4-22.7). More than 1/4th of normal weight adolescents [27.2% (99/364)] also had CO. Increased fast food intake (OR: 4.1; 95% CI = 2.1-8.1), low Physical Activity Level (OR: 2.4; 95% CI = 1.3-4.3) and more than 10 hours sedentary time spent per day (OR: 2.2; 95% CI = 1.1-4.8) were independent determinants of CO. Conclusion: Central obesity among school-going adolescents of a non-metropolitan Indian city is alarmingly high and a burden even in one-fourth of normal weight adolescents. Screening for CO among adolescents by primary physicians, pediatricians, and through School Health Programme is recommended. Behavior change communication regarding risk factors for CO is advocated.
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spelling doaj-art-44aea511222644f48cfddfeda2d39c312025-02-11T13:53:01ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Family Medicine and Primary Care2249-48632278-71352025-01-0114128328910.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_967_24Central obesity is a burden even in normal weight adolescents of a non-metropolitan Indian City: A case for alarm and action for prevention and controlTabassum NawabZulfia KhanIqbal M. KhanMohammad A. AnsariIntroduction: Central obesity (CO) leads to increased cardiovascular and metabolic risks in children and adolescents. The evidence on prevalence of central obesity and its correlates are lacking among adolescents in India. Objectives: (1) To estimate the prevalence of central obesity in school-going adolescents, (2) To determine the association between central obesity and generalized obesity (GO) among adolescents, and (3) To determine the correlates of central obesity. Methods: Totally, 660 adolescents, selected using systematic random sampling, in four urban schools in Aligarh were interviewed using pre-designed questionnaire and Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Height, weight, and waist circumference (WC) were measured. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. CO was defined as >90th age-and-sex-specific percentile of WC and GO by BMI-for-age-and-sex percentiles given by WHO Growth Reference 2007. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were done using IBM SPSS version 20.0. Results: Overall prevalence of central obesity was found to be 28.5% [CI: 25.2-32.0], almost double of generalized obesity (14.6%, 95%CI: 12.1-17.6). The prevalence was significantly higher among girls (33.6%, 95%CI: 28.3-39.3) than in boys (24.7%, 95%CI: 20.7-29.3) and in the affluent group (38.8%, 95%CI: 33.7-44.1) than in non-affluent (18.2%, 95%CI: 14.4-22.7). More than 1/4th of normal weight adolescents [27.2% (99/364)] also had CO. Increased fast food intake (OR: 4.1; 95% CI = 2.1-8.1), low Physical Activity Level (OR: 2.4; 95% CI = 1.3-4.3) and more than 10 hours sedentary time spent per day (OR: 2.2; 95% CI = 1.1-4.8) were independent determinants of CO. Conclusion: Central obesity among school-going adolescents of a non-metropolitan Indian city is alarmingly high and a burden even in one-fourth of normal weight adolescents. Screening for CO among adolescents by primary physicians, pediatricians, and through School Health Programme is recommended. Behavior change communication regarding risk factors for CO is advocated.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_967_24adolescentscentral obesitygeneralized obesity
spellingShingle Tabassum Nawab
Zulfia Khan
Iqbal M. Khan
Mohammad A. Ansari
Central obesity is a burden even in normal weight adolescents of a non-metropolitan Indian City: A case for alarm and action for prevention and control
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
adolescents
central obesity
generalized obesity
title Central obesity is a burden even in normal weight adolescents of a non-metropolitan Indian City: A case for alarm and action for prevention and control
title_full Central obesity is a burden even in normal weight adolescents of a non-metropolitan Indian City: A case for alarm and action for prevention and control
title_fullStr Central obesity is a burden even in normal weight adolescents of a non-metropolitan Indian City: A case for alarm and action for prevention and control
title_full_unstemmed Central obesity is a burden even in normal weight adolescents of a non-metropolitan Indian City: A case for alarm and action for prevention and control
title_short Central obesity is a burden even in normal weight adolescents of a non-metropolitan Indian City: A case for alarm and action for prevention and control
title_sort central obesity is a burden even in normal weight adolescents of a non metropolitan indian city a case for alarm and action for prevention and control
topic adolescents
central obesity
generalized obesity
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_967_24
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AT mohammadaansari centralobesityisaburdeneveninnormalweightadolescentsofanonmetropolitanindiancityacaseforalarmandactionforpreventionandcontrol