Impact of Lifestyle Modifications on Overweight and Obesity Among School Students in selected community area, Chennai.

Abstract

Overweight and obesity among school students have emerged as critical public health concerns globally, with significant implications for children's health and well-being. The prevalence of obesity in children has been rising alarmingly, leading to an increased risk of various health issues, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and psychosocial problems. The main aim of the study to assess the impact of Lifestyle Modifications on Overweight and Obesity Among School Students. The study employed a cross-sectional design with a quantitative approach. A sample size of 80 school students, in the age group of 6 to 12 years was subjected to the study in a selected community area in Chennai. With the use of convenience sampling technique local schools were selected as participants. The study comprised all school students aged 6–12 years who were obese, excluding those with any medical conditions that may affect growth. The study revealed that there was a significant change in BMI category among the participants identified in this study: the 'Normal' category, which was 0% at the start went on to become 25%, 'Overweight' got raised from 43.75% to 50%, while 'Obese' reduced from 56.25% to 25%. Reductions in weight and BMI were also significantly shown among boys and girls, further validated by P values much lower than 0.05, which demonstrated that there were significant health improvements. The study concluded that targeted interventions significantly improved BMI and health outcomes in children, with physical activity being the strongest influencing factor.