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Materials and methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out among children attending both private and public primary schools in Oredo Local Government area of Edo state. A multi-stage sampling method was employed. Data were collected using pre-tested, semi-structured, interviewer administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were taken. The Body Mass Index was classified using the Center for Disease Control and Prevention BM I-for-age growth chart. Data analysis was by SPSS version 16.0 and P value was set at <0.05.
Results: A total of 407 children with mean age (S.D) 8.38 ± 1.64 years were studied. Two hundred and two (49.6%) attended private schools while 205 (50.4%) are attended public schools. The prevalence of childhood obesity was 27 (6.7%) while the prevalence of overweight children was 40 (9.8%). Obesity was found to be higher among the female respondents (p=0.053), respondents who attended private schools (p=0.000), and respondents who rode to school in personal cars (p= 0.000). Obesity was also higher among respondents whose mothers had tertiary level of education (p= 0.000) and a higher social class (p=0.000) Conclusion: Childhood obesity is a societal problem and therefore it demands a population-based multisectoral, multi-disciplinary, and culturally relevant approach.
Key words: Obesity; Childhood; Socioeconomic; Determinants
Learning Objectives: In many developing countries, overweight coexists with under nutrition, leading to a double burden of malnutrition. This may cause a setback in the reduction of infant and childhood morbidity and mortality and realization of MDG 4.