Childhood Obesity : A Public Health Crisis

Malnutrition, in every form, presents significant threats to human health. The world today is facing a double burden of malnutrition which includes both under nutrition and overweight, especially in developing countries. Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century which is emerging among all ages and socio-economic groups. The belief that obesity or over-nutrition was the problem of developed countries alone is no longer true. The prevalence of obesity seems to be increasing in most parts of the world, even where it used to be rare. Obesity is not a disease in itself but rather a complex symptom. The cause of obesity is complex and multi-factorial, within the context of environmental, social and genetic factors. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence and the factors contributing to overweight/obesity as it would be a useful tool in planning and developing appropriate intervention methods.