The factors influencing the prevalence of overweight and the obesity among adolescents schooled in the city of Temara; Morocco

Introduction: The objective of this work is to study the prevalence of overweight and obesity among secondary school students college , living in the city of Temara in Morocco ,and to identify the factors that influence overweight. Methods: This is a survey conducted in 2013 on a sample of students of a public secondary school. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, food habits and sedentary behavior for each student were collected by using a questionnaire. Results: 465 college students aged 12-18 years of age whose 201 boys and 264 girls. According to the reference thresholds, the frequency of obesity was 6.67% and 15.27% overweight. Obesity was significantly associated with a higher socioeconomic level, sedentary lifestyle and having more than two snacks per day. Conclusion: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is low, but it exists.the continuous observation,recognition of risk factors and the use of preventive measures are necessary to prevent future proliferation . These preventive measures should include not only individual approaches, but also the social environment of the child.