Screening Study of Overweight and Obesity in Students From the Schools of Burgas

Abstract

Childhood obesity is becoming a more important medical and social problem worldwide. The number of overweight children is increasing, and it is becoming more and more difficult to treat, and its role as a risk factor for the development of many diseases at a later age is very high. Obesity in children is predominantly hyperplastic - due to an increased number of fat cells. This explains unsuccessful treatment and the danger to maintain throughout life, because hipirplaziyata of fat cells is irreversible process. The main causes of overweight are: a positive energy balance and a and a disorder of lipid metabolism associated with increased liposynthesis and decreased lipolysis. Children with obesity are characterized by increased appetite, increased thirst, easy tiredness, decreased physical activity and neurotic changes. Parents do not have adequate judgment about the risk of overweight. The problem is that 40% of children aged 6 to 12, who are perceived as normal in weight, are actually overweight and even obese. A very small percentage of parents are worried about this fact. The aim of the study is to establish the percentage of overweight and obese children aged 10-11 years in several Burgas schools. Methodology of the study: measurement of height, weight, body mass index, percentage of fat and muscle tissue. Results and Discussion: The results we have found show a very high percentage of overweight in girls at the age of 11 – about 50%. The boys of the same age overweight was 8.3%. A high percentage of body fat is 37.5% at 11 years old girls, and very high in 12.5%. In boys of the same age we found respectively 16.7% and 8.3%. Conclusion: Screening showed extremely worrying results and proved that overweight in adolescents is becoming a serious problem. The treatment of obesity in children requires a complex approach where active participation takes students who have to be very motivated, as well as their parents and relatives.