ANALYSIS OF THE PREVALENCE OF OVERWEIGHT,OBESITY AND UNHEALTHY DIET AMONG ADOLESCENTSOF THE EAST KAZAKHSTAN REGION

Abstract

Background. In most countries, cardiovascular diseases occupy first place in the structure of
mortality and became a major cause of disability in the population of working age. In Kazakhstan, as in
all other regions, there is a rejuvenation of this group of diseases, that may be associated with an
increase of risk factors in the population.
Materials and methods. We carried out a cross-sectional study of 729 school aged adolescents of the
East Kazakhstan region on the prevalence of risk factors such as overweight and adherence to unhealthy
diet. Anthropometric assessment of overweight and obesity by body mass index, the thickness of the
subcapsular and triceps skin fold in study participants was conducted in accordance with the standards
developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC, USA). Assessment of potential risk factors for
cardiovascular diseases, such as unhealthy diet, made on the basis of the WHO report, of the European
initiatives for obesity surveillance in childhood (Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative).
Results. The study revealed that 13.99% of girls and 11.25% of boys are overweight or obese, while
one in four overweighted adolescent from financially secure families (25.7%). Risk Factor "unhealthy
diet" among teenagers the East Kazakhstan Region distributed from 37% to 86.5%, more than 52.8% of
the respondents consume fast food more than 3 days a week.
Conclusions. The prevalence of obesity risk factors and as a consequence of the possible
development of CVD is high, regardless of gender, rural or urban areas, as well as family income.
Joining of Kazakhstan to the European project initiatives for obesity surveillance in childhood is an
important initiative for the public health of the republic to strength the health of future generations.