Prevalence and risk factors for obesity among secondary school students in Baghdad, Iraq

Introduction: Obesity is a global health crisis that affects all ages and backgrounds. This study investigates the prevalence and risk factors for obesity among secondary school students in Baghdad, Al-Karkh. It emphasizes the importance of early intervention to prevent chronic diseases related to obesity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 500 participants from four randomly selected secondary schools (two public, two private; two male, two female) in Al-Karkh Al-Ola. The self-administered questionnaires collected data on demographics, potential risk factors, and anthropometric measurements (height, and weight). Body Mass Index (BMI) percentiles classified weight status as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. Results: The sample comprised slightly more females (60%) than males (40%). More than 60% (62.8%) were of normal weight. A concerning finding was the combined prevalence of overweight (16.3%) and obesity (17.2%), which totaled more than a third (33.5%) of the participants. Significant associations were found between obesity and gender. Females had a higher prevalence of obesity (22.0%) compared to males (10.0%), students with a positive family history had a significantly higher risk (64.5%) compared to those without a family history (1.6%), inactive students (20.0%) had a considerably higher prevalence of obesity compared to active students (4.4%), students who consumed five or more meals daily (74.4%) had a higher prevalence of obesity compared to those who consumed three meals (0.8%) or four meals (15.9%), and obese students spent significantly more time watching television and using the Internet compared to non-obese students. Conclusions: This research underscores the alarming rise of obesity among secondary school students. The study identified family history, diet choices, physical activity levels, and screen media use as significant contributing factors. It emphasizes the necessity of multiple interventions, including promoting healthy nutrition, encouraging physical activity through parental and school participation, integrating health education into the curriculum, and raising awareness among both parents and the general public through public health initiatives.