Prevalence of obesity among Nigerian school children

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity among 457 school children in the age group 6-19 years is 3.2% for males and 5.1% for females based on weight for age. 3.7% males and 3.3% females were classified as obese when triceps skinfold thickness was used as the basis of obesity. Preventable socio-economic factors are responsible for the high prevalence of obesity among, Nigerian school children. This the first study of prevalence of obesity among Nigerian school children.