Prevalence of Overweight, Obesity and Blood  Pressure Levels in Adolescent School Children

R. Hema latha; G. Sudhakar; Dr.R.K.Anuradha

Volume : III, Issue : XI, November - 2013

Prevalence of Overweight, Obesity and Blood Pressure Levels in Adolescent School Children

R. Hema Latha, G. Sudhakar, Dr. R. K. Anuradha

Abstract :

Adolescent obesity is becoming a common health problem with increasing prevalence in both developed and developing countries. In the light of this information an attempt has been made in the present study to assess overweight, obesity and blood pressure levels in adolescent school children of rural and urban areas in and around Tirupati, Chittoor District, in Andhra Pradesh. A total of 1032 adolescent school children comprising 611 urban (F=218; M=393) and 421 rural (F=223; M=198). Information on anthropometric measurements, blood pressure levels and demographic profiles were collected from all the participants. Both male and females from urban area shown that the adolescent school children were taller and heavier by possessing significant higher levels of body mass index than to their rural counterparts. Though some fluctuations are observed in waist circumference, hip circumference, triceps SFT, sub scapular SFT, abdominal SFT between rural and urban populations, but none were statistically different. In contrary, urban males and females do possess lower levels of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure than to rural population. In conclusion it is inferred that urban adolescents are characterized by higher levels of overweight and obesity, which warrants attention to correct this menace.