PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY: A COMMUNITY SURVEY IN KERALA

Introduction: Childhood obesity is a growing health problem around the world. More and more children are becoming overweight or obese, and this trend has increased a lot over the past few decades. The latest World Obesity Atlas was published by the World Obesity Federation in March 2024 to coincide with World Obesity Day. The Atlas estimates that as of 2020, there are 33 million children in India who are living with overweight and obesity. This works out to an overall prevalence of 9% of overweight and obesity among children below the age of 20 years. Overweight and obesity rates are projected to grow annually by 6.2% every year. Multiple factors contribute to the development of obesity in children, including genetic predisposition, environmental influences, socio-economic status, and behavioural factors such as poor diet and physical inactivity. Increased consumption of high-calorie, nutrient-poor foods, coupled with sedentary behaviours like excessive screen time, plays a significant role in the rising prevalence.