Obesity and Health Problems

286 An Intervention Programme Among Overweight Primary School Children both childhood and adolescence Will, Beata; Zeeb, Hajo; Baune, Bernhard 2005. Obesity presents numerous problems for the children. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In addition to increasing the risk of obesity in adulthood, childhood obesity is the leading cause of pediatric hypertension, is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, increases the risk of coronary heart disease, increases stress on the weight – bearing joints, lower self esteem, and affects relationship with peers. Some authorities feel that social psychological problems are the most significant consequences of obesity in children. Being an overweight child under 3 years of age, does not predict future obesity unless at least one parent is also obese. After the age of 3 years, the likelihood that obesity will persist into adulthood increases with advancing age of the child and is higher in children with severe obesity in all age groups. After an obese child reaches 6 years of age, the probability that obesity will persist into adulthood exceeds 50 , and 70-80 of obese adolescents will remain so as adults Segal Sanchez, 2001.

1.3 Prevalence of Obesity in Perak, Malaysia

There is no single data on the prevalence of obesity among schoolchildren in the state of Perak. However, individual data gathered from the various districts school health teams showed that apart from Kerian district, the rest of the districts had low prevalence of obesity. Review of five years data from Kerian district showed prevalence of obesity ranging from 4.45 to 6.30 among Year 1 students; 7.60 to 16.80 among Year 6 students and 5.0 to 13.90 among Form 3 students respectively. A study done in Hilir Perak district by Pon Lai Wan et al 2004 revealed that 8.5 from 558 students were found to be overweight and obese. Five years’ data obtained from the School Health Services showed that the prevalence of obesity defined as weight-for-height in excess of 120 percent of the ideal in the district of Kinta, ranges from 6.30 to 8.90 among Year 1 students; 12.80 to 17.00 among Year 6 students and 8.50 to 13.30 among Form 3 students respectively. It is thus felt that there is a need for an intervention programme for young schoolchildren so as to reduce future morbidity and mortality, and further help to decrease the economic burden on the health system. 2 8 7 n In ter ven tion P ro g ra m m e A m ong O ver w eig h t P ri m ar y S cho o l C h ild ren Figure 1. Factors contributing to overweight among primary school children overweight among primary school children compliance Peer pressure Physical activities exercise Psychological factors Self image Age of weaning Breast feeding Dietary factors Socio-economic status Well balanced Availability of food Birth weight Obesity In the family Family factors lifestyle genetic Knowledge on healthy eating non-modifiable factors Health concern Knowledge of health hazard regarding obesity Student factors attitude