Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Prediabetes Condition in Obese/Overweight Children in Selected School of Lalitpur District, Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity, hypertension and diabetes are the most powerful predictor of cardiovascular diseases in children as well as adults. These factors are interlinked to one another and form a vicious cycle. In Nepal obesity in children is not a priority search for a researcher owing to the overwhelming presence of undernutrition. The main aim of the study was to explore the cardiovascular risk factors among overweight and obese school children of the selected schools

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional descriptive study in a semi urban area private school in Lalitpur district, Nepal in 310 students of age group 14-16 years of 10th grade. The distribution of obesity by BMI and WC category was searched for. Capillary fasting glucose level was measured by glucometer and food habit and physical activities were inquired through structured questionnaire. Height and weight were measured by simple measuring tape and bathroom scale weighing machine. Blood pressure was measured by aneroid sphygmomanometer using standard technique. All the data were compared to the standards of south Indian study of children percentile chart.

Results: Obesity and overweight were found in 18.7 percent children. Pre-hypertension was found in 8.6 percent. Physical inactivity in terms of > 2 hours of TV watching, mobile and video game playing was found in 31.46 percent of obese children which was statistically significant (P<.001). However, there were no children found to be prediabetic.

Conclusions: There is increasing obesity among school going children in semi urban cluster of Kathmandu valley. The physical inactivity in the form of watching TV or playing video games/mobiles is associated with development of obesity. Hypertension is prevalent among obese children.