Prevalence and Causes of Childhood Obesity: its Perceived Effects on Academic Performance of Pupils

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Around the world, the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents has increased substantially over the last decade. The Philippines is not spared from this scenario, and results of national nutrition surveys are showing slow but increasing childhood overweight and obesity rates. The number of obese children and adolescents has also been on the rise in the Philippines, and the rest of the world, over the last decade. Results of nutritional surveys among Filipinos reveal slow but steady increasing rates of childhood overweight and obesity cases.

METHODS

A study was conducted in selected schools from Nasugbu, Batangas, Philippines in 2016. The objective was to determine the prevalence of obesity, its causes, and effects in academic participation among pupils' grades four to six. Two hundred and twenty-five pupils were selected according to their body mass index. The researchers measured pupils' anthropometries and a questionnaire was used to assess the prevalence, causes, and its effect in the academic participation of the pupils.

RESULTS

The study revealed that the prevalence of obesity among the sample was 8% and 30.67% for overweighed pupils. Sociodemographic factors have a relationship with obesity status with the paternal occupation at the highest peak, followed by the age group of the pupils. This revealed indirectly that family income had an association with obesity. Fat food and snack consumption, and the number of days the respondents usually eat at fast food restaurants show a significant association between obese and non-obese respondents. A minute significant association with becoming more likely obese was observed in playing sports and reading books. Pupils who consumed foods during passive entertainment activities are 30 percent more likely to become obese.

DISCUSSIONS

This study produced a result that contradicts ideas that obese children does not well in academic performance. Furthermore, the common method of enhancing awareness about obesity and developing intervention programs such as promoting healthy lifestyle and physical activities must be continued.