Prevalence of childhood obesity and its associations among adolescents: a cross-sectional, urban, community-based, birth cohort study from South Asia

Background: There are few community-based data on childhood obesity. We investigated the community prevalence and associations of adolescent obesity in a birth cohort from an urban community in Sri Lanka.MethodsThe study population consisted of 14-year-olds (Year-2000 birth-cohort), from the Ragama MOH area were invited to participate in the study. Demographic and lifestyle data were collected, and standard blood biochemistry was performed. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure were measured. Total body fat percentage (TBF) was measured using the impedance method. Wilcoxon Rank Sum test, linear models, generalized linear models and Multivariate analysis of covariance were used for the analysis of data.Results508 [260 (51.2%) girls; median birth weight 2.9 (IQR: 2.6–3.2) kg] participated in the study. Prevalence of central obesity (CO) was 26.7% (95% CI: 23.1% − 30.8%), general obesity (GO) was 1.8% (95% CI: 0.6% − 2.9%) and global obesity was 1.6% (0.4% − 2.7%). Girls showed a higher prevalence of CO compared to boys (37.8% vs 15.8% respectively, P < 0.001). GO was associated with lower birth order (P = 0.044), CO with female sex (P < 0.001) and higher birth weight (P = 0.05), and global obesity with gestational diabetes (P = 0.055). After adjusting for antenatal and postnatal factors, GO, and CO showed positive associations with blood pressure, lipid and glucose metabolism and alanine transaminase (ALT) and fatty liver.ConclusionIn this cohort of adolescents, CO was more prevalent than GO. CO was commoner among the girls than in boys. GO was associated with lower birth order while CO showed association with higher birth weight. After adjusting for these, both GO and CO showed association with metabolic traits.Key points· We investigated the community prevalence and associations of adolescent obesity in a birth cohort from an urban community in Sri Lanka. · In this cohort of adolescents, central obesity (CO) was more prevalent than general obesity (GO). · GO was associated with lower birth order while CO showed association with higher birth weight.· After adjusting for these, both GO and CO showed association with metabolic traits.