Prevalence of Obesity and Overweight among School-Aged Children in Gharyan City. A prospective cross-sectional study

Background: Childhood overweight and obesity are rising public health concerns worldwide, including in urban areas of Libya. Data on prevalence in school-aged children in Gharyan are scarce. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity among schoolchildren aged 7–12 years in Gharyan City, Libya, and explore variations by age, gender, and school grade. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 632 children from public and private schools. Anthropometric measurements were performed, and BMI was classified using WHO BMI-for-age reference charts. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stratified prevalence assessments. Results: Overall, 22.0% of children were overweight and 9.7% were obese, with no significant gender differences. Obesity peaked in 7- year-old boys (23.1%) and 12-year-old girls (14.3%). Overweight prevalence increased with age, peaking at 32.6% in boys aged 8 years. Combined overweight and obesity affected 31.7% of participants, highlighting a substantial urban burden. Conclusion: Childhood overweight and obesity are highly prevalent among schoolchildren in Gharyan, Libya, across all ages and genders. These findings underscore the need for targeted school-based interventions and community health strategies, with collaboration between clinical pharmacists and community medicine physicians to prevent and manage obesity from an early age.