ArticleBMC public health2015
Why are primary school children overweight and obese? A cross sectional study undertaken in Kinondoni district, Dar-es-salaam.
Article in BMC public health, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
23 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 51 citations in OpenAlex.
- Video Games, Obesity, and Children.Current obesity reports · 2020Pooled it
- Effect of physical activity and multi-micronutrient supplementation on body composition among Tanzanian schoolchildren: secondary outcomes from the KaziAfya cluster-randomized controlled trial.BMC public health · 2025Trial
- Physical Activity and Overnutrition Among 8-11-Year-Old School Children in Thika Town, Kenya.Journal of nutrition and metabolism · 2025Article
- Exploring the multifaceted factors influencing overweight and obesity: a scoping review.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Active School Commuting in School Children: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence and Future Research Implications.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Review
- Article
- Intervention empowerment of families in preventing and controlling overweight and obesity in children: A systematic review.Journal of public health research · 2021Article
- Prevalence and correlates of overweight and obesity among primary school children in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.PloS one · 2021Article
- Prevalence, incidence, and trends of childhood overweight/obesity in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic scoping review.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2020Article
- Obesity epidemic in urban Tanzania: a public health calamity in an already overwhelmed and fragmented health system.BMC endocrine disorders · 2020Article
- Transitions to adulthood and the changing body mass index of adolescent girls in Zambia.Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · 2020Article
- Contribution of Home and School Environment in Children's Food Choice and Overweight/Obesity Prevalence in African Context: Evidence for Creating Enabling Healthful Food Environment.Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics · 2020Review
- Risk factors and morbidities associated with childhood obesity in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic scoping review.BMC nutrition · 2020Article
- Prevalence of excess body weight and associated factors among secondary school adolescent girls in northern Tanzania: a cross-sectional study.The Pan African medical journal · 2020Article
- Description and comparison of physical activity from self-reports and accelerometry among primary school children in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: a pilot study.AAS open research · 2020Article
- Prevalence of overweight and obesity among African primary school learners: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Obesity science & practice · 2019Review
- Prevalence and associates of obesity and overweight among school-age children in a rural community of Thailand.Korean journal of pediatrics · 2019Article
- Prevalence and correlates of overweight and obesity among school children in an urban district in Ghana.BMC obesity · 2019Article
- Influence of lifestyle factors on Body Mass Index in preschoolers in Behbahan city, southwest Iran, 2016.Electronic physician · 2018Article
- Demographic determinants of obesity, and adherence to dietary and physical activity guidelines among 4 to 6-year-old children in Behbahan city, southwest Iran, 2016.Electronic physician · 2018Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe world is experiencing an alarming increase in prevalence of childhood obesity. Despite this trend little is known about determinants of childhood obesity in Tanzania. A cross sectional study determined the prevalence and factors associated with overweight and obesity in 1722 children aged 7-14 years (10.9 ± 1.74) attending primary schools in Dar es Salaam.
methodsSix public and four private schools were systemically selected from a total of 227 primary schools. Anthropometric measurements (weight and height) were collected using a standard protocol and Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. Interviews collected demographic characteristics and lifestyle factors. Multiple logistic regression test was used to assess the influence of independent variables on overweight and obesity while controlling for confounding factors. The level of significance was set at α = 5 %.
resultsOf 1, 722 children 10.2 % were overweight and 4.5 % were obese. Overweight and obesity was higher in boys (14.9 %) than girls (14.5 %), higher in children attending private schools (27.7 %) than public schools (5.9 %). Children who walked to and from school were less likely to be overweight or obese than those who used vehicles (AOR = 0.5; 95%CI: 0.3-0.6; p < 0.001). Those who used private cars or school buses were more likely to be overweight or obese than those who used public transport (AOR = 2.9; 95%CI: 0.2-0.7; p < 0.05). Computer/video game use were associated with increased risk of overweight and obesity (AOR = 1.6; 95%CI: 1.1-2.3; p = 0.03). Lunch provided by schools was associated with increased risk of overweight or obese (AOR = 6.4, 95 % CI = 4.2-9.6, p < 0.001).
conclusionsThe findings of this study identified a number of behavioural and dietary factors that are related to overweight and obesity. Parents and teachers should encourage children to be physically active by limiting screen time and promoting active transport to and from school to promote health and reduce obesity. Ministry of education needs to formulate/enforce policies that encourage physical activities for school children and regulate quality of foods provided to children at schools.
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