Abstract

Background: Currently, Vietnam is suffering from a double burden of nutrition: The malnutrition rate has decreased, while the rate of overweight and obesity in children tends to increase. Objectives: To evaluate the current situation of overweight, obesity, and related factors in children at two preschools in Hiep Hoa District, Bac Giang Province in 2021. Methods: A cross-sectional study on 506 children and 506 children caregivers at two preschools in Thang Town and Duc Thang, Hiep Hoa District, Bac Giang Province. Demographic information was collected using a pre-designed questionnaire; weight and height were collected by weighing, and measuring height. The evaluation of nutritional status was based on the nutritional classification table of WHO 2007. Results: The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity of children in two preschools was 8.9%, in which the corresponding proportions of overweight and obesity were 6.3% and 2.6% respectively; there was a relationship between age at pregnancy, education level, knowledge, and practices of the children caregivers and the overweight and obesity status. Conclusions: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in two preschools in Hiep Hoa district, Bac Giang province was high compared to the national average (7.1%).