Association of Risk Factors of Family Environment with Childhood Obesity

Aim: To determine the association of family environment risk factors with childhood obesity. Method: It was a case control study (analytical) and was conducted in Public and Private schools of Bahawalpur City and was analyzed in Department of Community Medicine, Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur. Students of age 8-10 years studying in grade 4 and 5 of private and public schools of Bahawalpur was included in the study. A predesigned and pretested questionnaire was used after thorough introduction and explanation of study. Questionnaire was designed to assess the different aspects of childhood obesity. It comprised of questions about demographic information which includes name, age, height, weight, gender, class and evaluation of dietary intake and parents BMI. Questions about the assessment of physical activity, hours spend in watching television, participation in sports activities and number of daily meals were also included. Results: My study showed that childhood obesity was associated with parental BMI, eating between regular meals, TV viewing >4hours/day and physical activity <20min/day. Conclusion: My study concluded that childhood obesity is associated with risk factors of family environment (parental BMI, eating between regular meals, TV viewing >4hours/day and physical activity <20min/day).