Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Schoolers in Selected Schools in Ranchi, Jharkhand

TL;DR

This study examines the prevalence of overweight and obesity among schoolchildren in Ranchi, Jharkhand, and finds a link with processed food consumption and ethnicity.

Contribution

The study identifies a growing trend of obesity in a region with high undernutrition and highlights disparities between tribal and non-tribal groups.

Findings

2.8% of students were overweight, 59.5% were underweight, and 37.7% had normal weight.

Processed food consumption and ethnicity were significantly correlated with BMI (p < 0.05).

Abstract

Introduction

Worldwide obesity among children, especially among schoolers, has drastically increased over the years. The condition is the same in India, one of the largest democracies in the world. We conducted this study to understand the current state of obesity among schoolers in India and the factors that contribute to it.

Methods

This cross-sectional survey was done to determine the prevalence of obesity and investigate the connection between different underlying factors and obesity among schoolers at multiple private schools in Ranchi, Jharkhand, from January 2024 to September 2024. Height, weight, and BMI were calculated by using a calibrated weighing scale and stadiometer. A sociodemographic pro forma was used to determine the underlying factors contributing to obesity and overweight, while a standard questionnaire evaluated the related factors. Descriptive statistics were employed to assess the frequency and percentage of sociodemographic characteristics and the prevalence of obesity and overweight, whereas correlation coefficients and linear regression were used to find any relationship between sociodemographic determinants and overweight and obesity.

Results

The research revealed that the majority of the samples were predominantly female, representing 51.6%. Hinduism comprised 89.3% of the samples. Moreover, 51.6% of the samples were from the fifth grade. A notable 92.7% of the samples were from non-tribal ethnicities. The average BMI of pupils was 18, with an SD of 11.4. We found 2.8% of the total students as overweight, 59.5% as underweight, and 37.7% as normal weight in our survey. There was a strong link between BMI and variables like eating processed foods and ethnicity (processed foods: R = 0.135, R² = 0.0181, F = 5.30, p = 0.022; ethnicity: R = 0.132, R² = 0.0175, F = 5.10, p = 0.025).

Conclusions

This study revealed a gradual increase in obesity, especially in regions previously characterized by significant undernutrition. This study validates the notable disparities in obesity rates between tribal and nontribal ethnic groups and has a direct link with the consumption of processed food. The study’s findings highlight the necessity for additional research in this domain.

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