Prevalence of overweight/obesity and related factors in Keerqin District, Tongliao City: A cross-sectional study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyze the prevalence of overweight/obesity and the factors influencing these conditions among 9- to 18-year-old adolescents in Keerqin District of Tongliao City. We explored whether overweight/obesity is accompanied by differences in eating habits, lifestyle, and mental health. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was administered to 1,736 adolescents in November 2020. A physical examination was performed for each participant, and an online questionnaire was adopted to collect information. The association of several risk factors with overweight/obesity was explored using a logistic regression model. ResultsThe prevalence of overweight/obesity in the study population was 43.32%. The risk of overweight/obesity was higher among nonresident students (odds ratio [OR] = 1.564, 95% CI = 1.182-2.069) who had an average of 3-4 (OR = 2.164, 95% CI = 1.087-4.308) or 5 or more (OR = 2.114, 95% CI = 1.376-3.248) PE classes per week. The risk of overweight/obesity was lower among girls (OR = 0.485, 95% CI = 0.396-0.593), students aged 15-16 years (OR = 0.288, 95% CI = 0.135-0.617) and those aged 17-18 years (OR = 0.282, 95% CI = 0.124-0.639), students who ate sweets more than once a week (OR = 0.570, 95% CI = 0.366-0.887), students who spent less than 1 hour per day on the computer each week (OR = 0.776, 95% CI = 0.620-0.971), students with depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [CES-D] score & GE; 16) (Model 2: OR = 0.618, 95% CI = 0.385-0.990; Model 3: OR = 0.623, 95% CI = 0.388-1.000), and students with depressed affect (Model 2: OR = 0.921, 95% CI = 0.877-0.967; Model 3: OR = 0.929, 95% CI = 0.885-0.976). ConclusionOverweight/obesity was influenced by eating habits and lifestyle factors. In addition, overweight/obesity adolescents had a lower risk of depressed than those with normal weight.

Automated summary

This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of overweight/obesity among 9- to 18-year-old adolescents in Keerqin District of Tongliao City and explore the factors influencing these conditions, including eating habits, lifestyle, and mental health. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in November 2020, involving 1,736 adolescents who underwent physical examinations and completed an online questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis revealed that nonresident students, higher frequency of physical education classes, and certain age groups had a higher risk of overweight/obesity. On the other hand, being female, consuming sweets less frequently, spending less time on computers, and exhibiting symptoms of depression were associated with a lower risk of overweight/obesity. The findings highlight the importance of addressing eating habits and lifestyle factors in the prevention and management of overweight/obesity among adolescents.