title: Risk factors for obesity among school aged children in western Algeria: results of a study conducted on 293 subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Childhood obesity is a serious public health problem and its prevalence is increasing worldwide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Before a prevention approach, it is essential to make a diagnosis on the problem and its risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We opted for a cross-sectional survey of 293 primary students of Sougueur.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of overweight including obesity according to IOTF cutoffs was 8.18%. A significant relationship existed between obesity and educational level of parents, level of physical activity; taking a snack and skipping the dinner. Our results seem much lower than published values. We find that excess food intake and light exercise can trigger overweight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Algeria, it is time to launch programs for good nutritional information and a sufficient physical activity in children.
authors.forename: Mohamed Abdelhaq
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abbes
authors.forename: Karima
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bereksi-Reguig
mesh_terms: D000462:Algeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors