Endocrine Abstracts

Obesity has emerged as an epidemic in India. The present study was conducted to assess the magnitude of overweight and obesity amongst children in the age group of 5–18 years belonging to low, middle and high income group in National Capital Territory NCT of Delhi. A total of 16 595 children (LIG 5087, MIG 5134 and HIG 6368) were covered in the present study. Overweight and obesity were assessed using BMI and triceps skin fold thickness (TSFT) utilizing age and sex specific cut off points. Considering the BMI cut off points, the prevalence of obesity and overweight in Low Income Group (LIG) school children was 0.1 and 2.7% respectively, amongst Middle Income Group (MIG) school children it was 0.6 and 6.5% and in High Income Group (HIG) school children was 6.8 and 15.3% respectively (P<0001). With regard to the TSFT criteria, the prevalence of obesity and overweight in LIG school children was 1.2 and 2.4%, amongst MIG school children it was 2.5 and 4.9% and in children belonging to HIG schools was 9.3 and 13.1% respectively (P<0.001). The present study documented that the prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher in the HIG children as compared to the MIG and the LIG for all age groups, highlighting the possible role of change in the dietary pattern and physical activities with increase in income levels.