OBESITY PREVALENCE and FATHER-CHILD BMI RELATIONSHIP in PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN 5-6 YEARS OLD

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of obesity and the relationship between father and son BMI in 5-6 years child studying in pre-school education institutions in Siirt center. The research was conducted on 65 children aged 5-6 and their fathers enrolled in 6 different pre-school education institutions affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in the city center of Siirt. Participant's body weight and height were measured, Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated, BMI was classified according to WHO-2004 reference values for fathers, and CDC 2000 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) growth chart for children by age and gender. In the study, 3.22% of a 5-year-old child were weak, 25.80% were risky overweight and 19.35% were obese, 2.94% of a 6-year-old child were weak, 35.29% risky overweight, 29.41% were obese, fathers; It was determined that 1.53% were weak, 93.84% were risky overweight and 1.53% were obese. 6-year-old child were found to have a higher prevalence of obesity than a 5-year-old child. The average age of the fathers participating in the study was determined as M-age=37.04, average height M-height=176.6 cm, average weight M-weight=84.13 kg, and average BMI M-bmi=26.96. A medium-level positive correlation was found between the BMI of the children and their fathers (r=345, p<0.05). As a result, it is important that children, their families, and teachers who are educated in preschool period see obesity as a health problem as well as in the overweight group, which is a sub-level, and in the underweight group, which is the lowest value, as a health problem. In the light of the findings obtained within the scope of the research, education programs should be prepared to increase the knowledge and skills of families about healthy eating habits and the importance of physical activity for children's health. In this context, it emerges that physical activity and movement education are important for the healthy growth of children in pre-school education, and thus, teachers should pay attention to physical activity according to the curriculum determined for children's health.