Abstract

FREQUENCY OF OBESITY AND EATING HABITS AMONG TEENAGERS OF CONSTANTINE, ALGERIA

Daoudi Hadjer*, Lakehal Abdelhak, Sayed Amira , Abdelkader Rouabah,
Zaamouche Adlen, Leila Rouabah

Abstract

Background: In recent decades, the number of children who are overweight or obese has increased rapidly in many countries, including countries in the developing world, which is a concern given the consequences of excess weight health. More obesity appears, the sooner consequences in adulthood are dramatic. Objective: Estimate the frequency of overweight and obesity in adolescents enrolled in the district of Constantine, during 2012/2013, and evaluate their eating habits according to their weight status. Method: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, based on an elementary random sampling, on the list of names of all students enrolled in the 59 public colleges of the town of Constantine; the size of the sample was of the order of 449 college students. Results: The frequency of overweight and obesity were respectively 18.2% and 13.2%. 1.8% of adolescents had severe obesity. Only 54.7% of adolescents were of normal weight. Obese children are less to consume their breakfast, the less well-to-eat their breakfast and lunch at home, and with family compared to overweight children and normal weight. Conclusion: The high prevalence of overweight and obesity found in Constantine adolescents is a real wake-up call for those involved in public health in Algeria.

Keywords: childhood obesity, epidemiology, nutrition, teen.