Published Paper Details:

Background: In recent years, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become an emerging pandemic globally with disproportionately higher rates in developing countries even at early ages. WHO identifies the six leading risk factors that are associated with non-communicable diseases among which physical inactivity and overweight/ obesity are mutually independent risk factors. Materials and methods: 200 students, 100 each from class 8 and class 9, were selected for the study and were given the format to fill up the required personal information (like religion, diet, and routine activities) and biological measures (like height, weight, BMI, BP, abdominal girth, waist hip ratio) were taken. Further details were taken from parents. Results: Overweight (> 23) as well as obesity (>27) was more common in boys. Religion or diet was not significantly correlated to BMI. BP could not be correlated to BMI. Still, 12% incidence rate of BP at this tender schooling age is alarming. High abdominal girth was not correlated significantly with BMI. Hip to waist ratio was more prevalent than BMI and could be the earliest indicator of the obesity even before BMI increases. Conclusion: Obesity and its manifestation like hypertension are commoner than expected at this tender high school age. Waist to hip ratio can serve as the earliest indicator with due confirmation and causal-web analysis, urgent action is needed.