Implications of Childhood overweight and obesity on learning behaviour and classroom performance

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2010 in the subject Pedagogy - Pedagogic Sociology, grade: none, University of Dar es Salaam, language: English, abstract: This article is based on a study carried out from October, 2007 to May, 2008 that investigated the extent to which overweight and obesity were challenges among primary school children in Kinondoni and Njombe Districts in Tanzania. Systematic random sampling was used to select schools while stratified sampling and simple random sampling were used in selecting pupils and teachers who participated in the study. Measurement of weights and heights was done to determine Body Mass Index (BMI), while measurement of skin folds was done to determine body fat percentage. Close-ended questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data on the implications of overweight and obesity on health and learning behaviours. Findings of the study revealed that an average of 13.5% of children were overweight or obese. Hypertension, excessive sweating, teasing and peer rejection were common to obese children. In addition, overweight and obese children were reported to perform less than their peers in academic and physical activities. This study rerecommends among other things the establishment of education programs through mass media to raise people's awareness of how overweight and obesity affects children's health, social and classroom learning behaviours as well as performance. [...]