A Comparative Study of Prevalence of Obesity among Adolescent boys and girls in the Capital city of Odisha, India

Author: Jyotirmayee Udgata and Chinmayee Sahoo

Download PDF

Abstract

The incidence of obesity among adolescents is being raised across the globe. The adolescents with obesity are at higher risk of chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, metabolic disorder etc. Apart from this they face psychological problems like depression, anxiety and develop low self-esteem and strained peer relationship due to distorted body image. There are many contemporary researches in this area. But the researcher focussed here on comparative analysis of prevalence of obesity among adolescent boys and girls. The present study revealed the prevalence of obesity among boys and girls who belongs to the age group of 13 to 18 years. There were 120 samples chosen at random from different locations of Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha by home visit method. Descriptive statistics like percentage, frequency and correlation coefficient are used to analyse the data. The findings reveal that, the girls were comparatively more obese than boys in their late adolescence than early adolescence. Irrespective of their sex, all of them were found to be in the Grade-I obesity category. Weight, height, and WHR (Waist-Hip Ratio), all exhibited a positive correlation with BMI (Body Mass Index).

Keywords

Adolescents, overweight, obesity, BMI (Body Mass Index), WHR (Waist Hip Ratio)

Conclusion

It was discovered through comparative analysis that girls were more obese than boys. Likewise, girls in their late adolescence are bulkier than those in their early adolescence. The same is true for boys as it is for girls. Regardless of their sexual orientation, they were all classified to be in Grade-I obesity. As we know Grade-I obesity levels can be reduced by preventive measures, becoming more health conscious in terms of healthy food habits and judicious consumption of the right kind of food. The majority of families in today's society are nuclear, and parents rarely push their kids to work and exercise. As a result, they are spending their leisure time in watching television, using their smartphones, and using computers. They disrupt their eating routines and sit for extended periods of time to complete all these tasks. The main causes of adolescent obesity are lack of exercise and excessive calorie intake from junk food and soft drinks.

References

-

How to cite this article

Jyotirmayee Udgata and Chinmayee Sahoo (2023). A Comparative Study of Prevalence of Obesity among Adolescent boys and girls in the Capital city of Odisha, India. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(5): 121-124.