Childhood Obesity and Associated Factors among Primary School Children in Adama Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Backgrounds: obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation due to an energy imbalance that presents a risk to health. Childhood obesity is a major public health crisis over the world and it's a growing problem across the globe including in low and middle-income countries. childhood obesity in children persisting in adulthood puts the person at risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Objectives: To assess the Magnitude of childhood obesity and associated factors among school children in Adama town, East show zone Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, 2022

Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among primary schoolchildren from February to March. The study subjects were randomly selected by 497 students by systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire Data were entered into EPI-info version 7 statistical packages and analyzed using SPSS version 20. In the analysis process, the frequency distributions of variables were calculated. To ascertain the association between dependent and independent variables, an odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was calculated. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the magnitude impact of each predictor variable on the outcome variable after adjusting for all other predictors in the model.

Results: The overall prevalence of childhood obesity was found to be 8.7% with 95% CI: 6.2, 11.3]. The finding of this study revealed that being female [AOR = 4.4; 95% [CI 1.747, 11.152], family size [AOR = 3.4; 95% CI 1.315, 8.812] and learning in private school [AOR= 3; 95%CI 1.144, 7.949]. Children who had no fruits consumption and vegetables consumption per week were three times [AOR=2.6; 95%CI: 1.149, 6.445] and almost three times higher [AOR=2.864, 95%CI: 1.140, 7.198] were obese respectively. Not performing sports activities [AOR= 4.37; 95%CI: 1.490, 12.823] were significantly associated].

Conclusion and Recommendation: The magnitude of childhood obesity was higher in the current study area. School type, small family size, fast foods, snack intake, poor fruit and vegetable intake, and Physical inactivity were significantly associated factors for childhood Obesity. Therefore, promoting a healthy lifestyle such as improving fruit and vegetable intake and regular physical activity is essential.