Study of Prevalence of obesity and its relationship with physical activity level among children 13 to 15 years

Introduction: The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity has become a major public health problem in both developed and developing countries among children and adolescents and health and psychological consequences can be extended. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of obesity and its relationship with physical activity levels in boy's children 13-15 years old. Methods: In this descriptive correlational study, 439 boys among 2122 students were randomly selected. Height, weight, age, triceps, and calf skinfold thickness were measured in students. To determine the level of physical activity, (IPAQ = International Physical Activity Questionnaire) was used. Results: Our findings showed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity were 10.8% and 15.8% respectively. The negative significant correlations between weight categories (thin, normal, overweight, and obese) and physical activity levels, (r=-0.289 or p=0.001), between BMI and physical activity levels (r=-0.367; P=0.001), and between body fat and physical activity levels (r=-0.349; P=0.002) were observed. Conclusions: According to these findings, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Sahneh city students is a concerning matter.