JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL MEDICINE, cilt.31, sa.1, ss.13-17, 2014 (Scopus)
conditions which arise with the increase in fat tissue is generally called obesity. The
World Health Organization (WHO) defines obesity as the abnormal or excessive accumulation
of fat in the body such that it endangers health. A combination of environmental
and genetic factors rather than an organic illness underlie most cases of pediatric obesity.
The aim of this research is to examine the nutritional habits and obesity conditions of
primary school students. This descriptive study was carried out on all students in primary
schools affiliated to the Sinop Provincial Directorate of National Education, from May
10th, 2010 to May 10th, 2011, after gathering all necessary permissions. The research comprises
3352 students who agreed to take part in the research; there was no sub-selection
within the sample. After examining the percentile assessment of the participating children,
the following categorization has been made: 7% (under five) underweight, 78.4%
(between 5-85) normal, 8.7% (between 85-95) overweight and 6% (95 and over) obese.
Examining the children’s BMI according to gender found that 9.6% of boys and 7.6% of
girls were overweight, and 7.6% of the boys and 4.3% of the girls were obese, a higher
rate of excessive weight in boys than in girls. As a result, it is suggested that nurses should
continue an effective counseling service to enable children’s sufficient and balanced nutrition,
that they cooperate with the families while carrying out this service, and consider
social factors that increase tendencies to obesity. It is also suggested that further research
should be done on the relationship of parents and children.