Assessment of childhood obesity and overweight in Thai children grade5-9 years in BMA bilingual schools, Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

Childhood overweight and obesity has become an important public health problem in Thailand. A study was carried to assess the situation of obesity and overweight of Thai children attending grade levels 5-9 in BMA bilingual schools in Bangkok, Thailand. The research was a cross-sectional, analytical study. The study used purposive sampling and stratified random sampling. Two hundred and fifty students were selected as subjects for the study from six different BMA bilingual schools. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaire and analyzed by applying descriptive statistics (percentage, mean, standard deviation) to describe the data, and logistic regression to examine the relationship between independent and dependent variables. The results revealed that the prevalence of overweight was 10.4% and obesity was 8.4% in Thai children attending grade levels 5-9 in BMA bilingual. The study also showed that there were statistically significant associations between children’s diet practice (adjusted OR 2.4, 95% CI 0.946-6.103) and body image (adjusted OR 0.09, 95% CI 0.012-0.650) with childhood overweight and obesity. The findings indicated that childhood obesity is prevalent in BMA bilingual schools in Bangkok, Thailand. Childhood overweight and obesity is a serious public health problem based on its increasing rates and the associated health risks. Obesity is a multifactorial chronic diseases stemming from complex interactions between genes and environment. Future studies should consider other lifestyle and psychological factors in a larger age group. Finally, policies should improve the health-education program to signify the importance of dietary habits and physical activity. A much directive approach on the food-environment on the school’s compound and intervention should be directed not only on school children, but include the whole family are recommended.