Metrics details. Childhood overweight and obesity have increased progressively in developing countries and nowadays they are considered as a global epidemic. It was found that prevalence of overweight was Prevalence of overweight and obesity were statistically significant regarding birth weight, mother's occupation and father's level of education.
Further studies are recommended to identify risk factors in obese children. Periodic studies are necessary to compare the changes in prevalence of obesity in children in future. The incidence of chronic diseases is spreading much more rapidly in developing countries than in developed ones[ 1 ]. A marked increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity has been observed in the last few decades, both in adults and in children worldwide[ 2 ]. Childhood overweight and obesity have increased progressively in developing countries but nowadays they are considered as a global epidemic[ 3 ].
Interestingly, in many communities which still suffer from malnutrition, simultaneous growing prevalence of overweight and obesity are reported[ 4 ]. Analysis of studies in different countries, during , showed that 43 millions of preschool children were overweight or obese, while 35 millions of them belonged to developing countries, and 92 millions were at the risk of becoming overweight. Furthermore, overweight and obesity in preschool children is growing rapidly, so that it reached from 4.
It is predicted that it will reach to 9. In Asia, prevalence of overweight and obesity in preschool children was 4. Changes in the life style, urbanization, mal-nutrition, and use of high calorie fast foods and also decreased physical activity, due to watching TV and playing sedentary games, are significant causes of children's obesity[ 3 ].
Childhood obesity is associated with serious health problems like increasing morbidity, so that out patient visits, hospitalization and treatment in obese children is more than non-obese ones[ 6 ]. In addition, childhood obesity is associated with premature complications in the youth, i. They are the major health challenges in the world and considered as a leading cause of death[ 5 ].
