Prevalence of overweight and obesity in a school in the city of Luque in 2023

Abstract

Introduction. Childhood obesity is associated with a few health problems both in childhood and in adulthood. Obese children are at increased risk of developing chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, etc. Objective. To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a school in the city of Luque in the month of August 2023. Materials and Methods. Descriptive, cross-sectional study, with sampling of consecutive cases, in children aged 9 to 12 years from the Madre Rosa Santaeugenia Private School in the city of Luque in the Central department of Paraguay. Results. 100 students participated, 50% were female, 55% were between 9 and 10 years old. 16% of the participants were overweight or obese, 58% reported doing at least 1 to 2 h of physical activities outside of the school and 11% of the participants referred having never received education about nutrition and healthy lifestyle at school. Conclusion. Although in the study most participants were of adequate weight, overweight and obesity is an alarming problem around the world, which is a struggle that must be addressed immediately and addressing this problem requires a comprehensive approach that involves parents, educators and educational institutions.