Prevalence and Predictors of Obesity in School Aged Children in Dhaka City

Background: Childhood obesity is a growing global public health concern, with urban areas experiencing a sharp increase due to lifestyle and dietary changes.Obesity is a significant public health problem among school-aged children in Dhaka City, Bangladesh.Understanding the factors that predict childhood obesity can guide the development of preventive strategies.This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and key predictors of obesity among school-aged children in Dhaka City.Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 100 children aged 6-14 years from public and private schools in Dhaka City from January 2023 to June 2024.Structured questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and BMI-for-age percentiles collected the data.All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25.0. Results:The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 56%.Boys (66.07%) and students from private schools (62.50%) had higher rates of obesity.Low physical activity (p < 0.05), high screen time (p < 0.05), and a high-fat diet (p < 0.05) were significant predictors.Parental obesity was also a strong predictor. Conclusion:This study found that the significant burden of childhood obesity in Dhaka City varies according to lifestyle and socioeconomic factors.Implementing targeted interventions emphasizing parenting education, physical activity, and food practices is essential to combat this trend.