title: Study of childhood obesity among school children aged 6 to 12 years in union territory of puducherry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the prevalence of obesity and overweight among school children in Puducherry. To identify any variation as per age, gender, place of residence and type of school.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary data analysis of a school-based cross sectional study in all the four regions of Puducherry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children between 6 and 12 yrs were sampled using multistage random sampling with population proportionate to size from 30 clusters. Anthropometric data (BMI) was analyzed using CDC growth charts. Data was analyzed using SPSS, BMI (CDC) calculator, CI calculator and OR calculator.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of overweight (≥85(th) percentile) among children was 4.41% and prevalence of obesity (>95(th) percentile) was 2.12%. Mahe region had the highest prevalence of overweight (8.66%) and obesity (4.69%). Female children from private schools and urban areas were at greater risk of being overweight and obese.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Childhood obesity is a problem in Puducherry and requires timely intervention for its control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Pondicherry, India.
authors.forename: Preetam B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.forename: Anil J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Purty
authors.forename: Zile
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Johnson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cherian
authors.forename: Murugan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Natesan
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arepally
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Senthilvel