Childhood obesity has unhealthy consequences, both in the short and long terms. Recently, a worrying increase in overweight and obesity in Sub-Saharan African children was reported. This study aims to determine the prevalence of obesity/overweight in public and private schools in children aged 6-9 years in the city of Douala, and identify the risk factors associated with obesity and comorbidities in this population. Parental health status; children's birth weight, breastfeeding duration, physical activity and settles way of life data were collected using a questionnaire, and correlated to obesity and related comorbidities indexes: waist circumference (WC), Waist to Height Ratio (WtHR) and body mass index (BMI). Obesity (9%) and overweight (6.1%) were found in children, mostly in private than in public schools (13.82% versus 4.4% and 10.53% versus 1.9%; P<0.0001 respectively). Parents overweight and diabetes histories, birth weight (˃4 kg), breastfeeding duration (≤6 months), having less than 6 breakfasts a week, watching television more than 2hr/day, sleeping less than 10h/day and physical inactivity at school and home were significantly associated with obesity and related comorbidities in children (p<0.05 respectively). Overweight and obesity are a reality in these children, especially in those going to the private schools. Most of the factors associated are related to parents' and children's health history, but also to children's lifestyles that can be changed at home and at school.

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Anarchical and galloping anthropization is increasingly degrading the wetlands. This study aimed at determining the structure, diversity and spatiotemporal variation of microalgae from a few canals in the vicinity of garbage dumps of the Bobongo basin to propose methods of ecological management of these risk areas. Sampling took place from March 2016 to April 2019. Pelagic algae as well as those attached to stones and macrophytes were sampled in 25 stations. These algae samples were brought back to laboratory for identification and counting. The specific richness amounts to 13 classes, 34 orders, 52 families, 69 genera and 116 species. The dominant class is that of Bacillariophyceae (33 species) with a proportion of 28.45%. Results based on correspondence factor analysis revealed 3 groups of stations (clusters): the group I from stations 16, 21 and 25 consisted of exclusive species such as Cyclotella ocellata, Cymbella gamma, Gomphosphaeria natans, Navicula cryptocephalla and Tabellaria flocculosa. Group II from stations 18, 22, 23 and 24 consisted of exclusive species such as Aphanizomenon flosaquae, Aphanocapsa holsatica, Astasia limpida and Ulothrix zonata. Group III was made up of species common to all stations. Cyclotella ocellata, Cymbella gamma, Gomphosphaerium natans, Navicula cryptocephalla and Tabellaria flocculosa are hydrocarbon-polluting species. Our analysis is, to our knowledge, the first demonstrate the use of microalgal species as indicators of pollution in the context of environmental management for better monitoring of the quality of watercourses. In addition, these species can be used as bio-purifiers of polluted water in hydrocarbon.

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