International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition

Authors
Itoua Okouango YS, Okondza Nohya Delvina, Elenga Michel

Abstract
In Congo, the prevalence and causes of obesity are less known, let alone in the school environment. The objective of this study was to highlight the excess malnutrition among children attending public and private colleges in Brazzaville, by determining the prevalence of overweight and obesity among them. We conducted a cross-sectional anthropometric survey of 825 students. The results show that the prevalence of overweight (4.6% private college versus 1.4% public college) and obesity (1.4% private colleges versus 0.2% public colleges). These prevalences are much higher in private schools than in public schools. With regard to the professional sector of heads of households, the results show that 62.3% against 60.5% have heads of families who are civil servants, 32.20% against 19.1% of pupils have heads of families. Family who operate in the private sector. Regarding eating behavior, the results show that 3.6% of private college students do not take dinner and 8.3% never take it to public college. With regard to physical activity, the results show that 70% of students in the private sector and 57.2% of the public sector do not practice any extracurricular physical activity and 59.3% for the private college and 89.4% for the private sector. The public college go to school on foot. In light of this study, we can say that there is really a problem of overweight and obesity in schools in Brazzaville.