Abstract
Background
This study aimed to assess childhood obesity and physical activity patterns in an
urban Thailand primary school.
Methods
In a case-control study, 85 male and female school children, aged 10-12-years old,
were randomly selected from a school in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand.
Anthropometric data, including weight and height were collected. Obese or
overweight children were considered as case group. Obesity was defined as percentile
≥ 95th, and overweight was defined as percentile ≥ 85, of the sex- specific BMI-forage
growth CDC charts. A routine activity checklist evaluated different activities of
the children during weekdays and on weekends. Based on CDC site, all activities
were classified as light, moderate or heavy.
Results
There was a significant difference between sleeping hours of case and control groups
on weekends (P=0.000), and control group had longer sleeping periods. The case
group had less moderate activity on weekdays and weekends, but there was no
2
statistically significant difference between case and control group. The hours of light
activities on weekends in the control group were significantly less than that in the
obese group (P<0.000).
Conclusions
Physical activity pattern of the school children was different in case and control
groups. However, daily activity of children does not relate directly to obesity in
children. (Rawal Med J 2009;34: ).
Key words: Obesity, child obesity, physical activity
