Student
Dissertation 3rd Batch 
Risk Factors Associated With Overweight and Obesity among School Children in Dhaka City
Mejbah Uddin Bhuiyan
Abstract
Chronic diseases account for the largest share of premature death and disability in the world. The burden of these diseases is not only major concern of the developed world but it has also become a concern of the developing world. The epidemiological transition in most of the developing countries in South-Asian region has reached at such a point where the disease load of chronic or non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is believed to have surpassed that of communicable diseases (WHO, 2005). 23% (United Nations Children Fund, 2007) of the world’s population live in South Asia, where more than 28% of the disease burden can be attributed to chronic and NCDs (WHO, 2005). Obesity and obesity related diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension etc are the major NCDs that cause substantial mortality, morbidity and also lead to greater numbers of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Bangladesh, like many transitional nations, is also suffering from a heavy load of NCDs and chronic diseases. According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (2005), NCDs are responsible for around 51% of total deaths in Bangladesh. Along with the other NCDs, Bangladesh is also experiencing an increasing trend of prevalence of overweight and obesity and related diseases. This is still not a major public health problem considered by the health workers but few recent studies indicate that it is an emerging problem in Bangladesh, especially in urban areas. One study reported the high prevalence of overweight among school-going children. Bangladesh is now starting to experience the double burden of nutrition. This means that both under-nutrition and over-nutrition are prevalent in Bangladesh, posing a serious public health problem in near future.
