Prevalence and Predictors of Overweight and Obesity Among School-Aged Children in the Country of Georgia: A Cross-Sectional Study, 2022.

Abstract

Background: Childhood overweight and obesity are significant global public health challenges that affect approximately 340 million children worldwide. In Georgia, the prevalence of childhood obesity is alarming, with approximately 28% of 7-year-old children classified as overweight or obese in 2019. This study aimed to investigate the key factors associated with overweight and obesity among school-age children in Georgia.

Methods: Data from the Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative Survey (COSI), which was conducted in 2022, was analyzed. The study involved 3,334 children from 245 schools across the region. Anthropometric measurements and a structured questionnaire were utilized to evaluate body weight, dietary behaviors, physical activity behaviors, parental education, household socioeconomic status, and body mass index (BMI).

Results: Among second-grade school children in Georgia, 17.2% were overweight and 11.0% were obese, with higher percentages of boys (30.0%) than girls (26.3%). The prevalence of overweight/obesity was greater in urban-dwelling children (30.3%) than in rural children (23.6%). Significant associations were found between BMI and living area (p < 0.001), playing outside (p = 0.01), passive modes of transportation (e.g., cars) for school travel (p < 0.05), parental education (p = 0.03) and parental body weight (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in the prevalence of various dietary behaviors or screen time between normal-weight and overweight/obese children.

Conclusions: This study revealed significant associations between body weight status and certain demographic and lifestyle factors, highlighting the critical role of promoting physical activity, encouraging active transportation (e.g., walking or cycling to school) and raising parental awareness to address childhood overweight and obesity. Future interventions should prioritize creating a supportive environment for healthy behaviors and implementing early screening measures to prevent potential complications and improve overall health outcomes in children.