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Section Articles

Prevalence and Determinants of Adolescent Female Overweight and Obesity

Vol. 2 No. 3 (2025): Desember:
DOI : https://doi.org/10.21070/ijhsm.v2i3.339
Published : Dec 12, 2025

Firas A. Jassim (1), Majed A Mohammad (2), Amin Z. Alshiwali (3), Sajjad Salim Issa (4), Hanadi A. , Hanadi A. Jasim5 Jasim (5)

(1) Community Health Nursing Department, College of Nursing, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq
(2) Community Health Nursing Department, College of Nursing, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq
(3) Community Health Nursing Department, College of Nursing, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq
(4) Community Health Nursing Department, College of Nursing, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq
(5) Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Basrah, Iraq
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Abstract:









General Background: Adolescent overweight and obesity have emerged as major global public health concerns due to their strong association with long-term metabolic, cardiovascular, and psychosocial risks, particularly among female adolescents. Specific Background: In many low- and middle-income regions, evidence on the burden of excess body weight among school-aged girls remains fragmented, limiting effective prevention strategies. Knowledge Gap: Updated prevalence estimates and anthropometric correlations among female secondary school students are scarce, constraining regionally informed policy and school-based interventions. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity and examine relationships between age, height, weight, and body mass index among female secondary school students. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 female students aged 12–19 years selected through systematic random sampling from four secondary schools, with anthropometric measurements analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation tests. Results: The findings showed that 21.0% of students were overweight and 9.5% were obese, while 55.0% had normal body mass index; age was significantly correlated with height but not with weight or body mass index. Novelty: This study provides contemporary epidemiological evidence on adolescent female overweight and obesity patterns in an underreported population. Implications: The results highlight the urgency of early, school-based nutrition and physical activity interventions and offer empirical support for public health policies targeting adolescent obesity prevention.







Highlights:




  • Overweight prevalence exceeded obesity among female adolescents




  • Most students maintained normal body mass index classifications




  • Age correlated significantly with height but not with body mass index




Keywords:
Adolescent Obesity; Overweight Prevalence; Body Mass Index; Female Adolescents; Public Health Nutrition






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