title: Prevalence of overweight and underweight in public and private schools in the Seychelles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared the prevalence of body weight categories between public and private schools in the Seychelles, a rapidly developing small island state in the African region.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2004-2006, weight and height were measured and self-reported information on physical activity collected in children of three selected grades in all schools in the country. Overweight, obesity and thinness were defined according to standard criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on 8 462 students (377 in private schools), the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) was markedly higher in private than public schools (boys: 37% [95% CI: 31-44] vs. 15% [14-16]; girls: 33% [26-41] vs. 20% [19-22]). The prevalence of thinness grade 1 was lower in private than public schools (boys: 9% [5-13] vs. 20% [19-21]; girls: 13% [8-18] vs. 19% [18-20]). Students in private schools reported more physical activity at leisure time while students in public schools reported larger weekly walking time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that school type may be a useful indicator for assessing the association between socio-economic status and overweight in children, and that overweight affects wealthy children more often than others in developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health and Social Development, Section for Non-Communicable Diseases, PO Box 52, Victoria, Republic of Seychelles. bovet.pascal@gmail.com
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bovet
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiolero
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Madeleine
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paccaud
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001835:Body Weight; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D017149:Private Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017150:Public Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012750:Seychelles / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology*