Overweight and obesity among schoolchildren in Manipur, India.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of overweight and obesity and their associated factors among schoolchildren in Manipur has not been studied.


METHODS
We did a cross-sectional study among 3356 schoolchildren of classes VIII to XII in Imphal West district, Manipur between September 2005 and August 2006. The characteristics of the respondents and related variables such as parental build, watching television, eating habits, playing of video/computer games and outdoor games, dietary pattern and knowledge of obesity were assessed using a questionnaire. Height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, fat percentage, fat mass and fat-free mass were measured. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio for each student were calculated.


RESULTS
The BMI of the sampled students was lower than the corresponding WHO and International Obesity Task Force standards. Using the WHO standard, the prevalence of overweight was 4.2% and of obesity 0.8%. Using multivariate logistic regression, mother being reported to be obese (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.4-2.6), watching television for > 2 hours a day (OR 2.052, 95% CI 1.191-3.536), higher family income (OR 5.844, 95% CI 2.135-15.99), not eating other type of vegetables in the past 1 week (OR 2.338, 95% CI 1.04-5.24) and waist-hip ratio (OR 7.737, 95% CI 4.429-13.51) were found to be independent predictors of a higher BMI. Mother's literacy below class X (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.378-0.997) and eating between major meals (OR 0.447, 95% CI 0.293-0.681) were significant predictors of a lower BMI.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of overweight and obesity among schoolchildren in the Imphal West district of Manipur is low. The possible reasons for this include a more traditional low-fat diet, less exposure to sedentary past-times and a greater time spent playing outdoors.
Manipur Health Services, Government Polytechnic, Takyelpat, Imphal, Manipur, India. dr.bishwalata@rediffmail.com
Rajkumari
R
Bishwalata
Akoijam Brogen
AB
Singh
Akoijam Joy
AJ
Singh
Longjam Usharani
LU
Devi
R K Bikramjit
RK
Singh
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult