Prevalence of obesity and overweight in children: a study in government primary schools in Rabat, Morocco.

Background and Aims We undertook this study to assess the prevalence of obesity and overweight in children enrolled in government primary schools in the city of Rabat, Morocco. Methods Twenty three schools were randomly selected. A cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2010 and June 2010. The survey was conducted on the basis of two questionnaires for both parents and children. The references used are those of the WHO (2007). Results Our study involved a sample of 1570 children with an average age of 9.7 ± 0.95 years. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 8.7%. Overweight affected 5.1% and obesity affected 3.6%. The majority of our population consisted of children of low socioeconomic status where 59% of fathers are laborers and 85% of mothers are unemployed. Conclusion Overweight and obesity do not spare the most underprivileged social strata of our country. Therefore, prevention strategies and programs to raise awareness of risks and threats involved must be a public health priority.