title: Prevalence and factors associated with childhood overweight/obesity of private school children in Nepal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Childhood overweight/obesity is a global health problem because of adverse health and nutrition consequences worldwide. Currently, there is a paucity of information on childhood overweight/obesity in Nepal. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of, and the factors associated with, childhood overweight/obesity among primary school children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in June-December, 2013. We collected data using the structured self-administered questionnaire with parents of children aged 6-13 years in grades 1-6 studying at private schools of the Lalitpur district of Nepal. Height and weight measurements of 986 children were taken, and the corresponding body mass index (BMI)-for-age was calculated. The prevalence of childhood overweight/obesity was reported in proportion. Factors associated with childhood overweight/obesity were examined using the Chi-square tests followed by multiple logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 986 children, 144 (14.6%) were overweight and 111 (11.3%) were obese. Overall, 255 (25.9%) children were found to be overweight/obese. Children from families, having ≤2 siblings (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=1.958, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.163-3.296), upper class family (aOR=3.672; 95% CI: 1.154-11.690), and advantaged ethnic group (aOR=1.561; 95% CI: 1.00-2.437) and children who were of larger birth weight (>4.0kg) had a greater likelihood of being (aOR=2.557, 95% CI: 1.222-5.349) overweight/obese.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A quarter of children were found to be overweight/obese in private primary schools. Preventive interventions should focus on the advantaged ethnic groups, families with fewer siblings, and upper class families. A greater emphasis ought to be placed on formulation and implementation of policies aimed at addressing the newly emerging problems of childhood overweight/obesity in Nepal. New school health programs are to be launched and strengthened including avoidance of high energy junk food, and promoting outdoor activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koirala
authors.affiliation: Save the Children, Saving Newborn Lives Program, Kathmandu, Nepal. Electronic address: rkchettri@gmail.com.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Khatri
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Khanal
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amatya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005191:Family Characteristics / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D010290:Parents; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D017149:Private Sector; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health / Q000208:ethnology
keywords: Body mass index; Childhood Overweight/obesity; Nepal; Prevalence