Prevalence of Obesity and its Relationship to Lifestyle among Sec-ondary School Students in Mosul city, Iraq

Abstract

Background: Overweight and obesity rates are disproportionately higher in poorer areas, yet there is a shortage of research on child and adolescent health-related practices that may guide the creation of effective interventions. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity and identify lifestyle factors associated with obesity among secondary school students in Mosul city. Subjects and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 820 students in secondary schools in Mosul city. The study used a multistage stratified random technique, namely a random sampling technique, to choose students through body anthropometric measurements and direct interviews. Data collection continued for a period of 4 months, starting on 15th December 2025 and ending on 1st April 2026. Results: The present research determined that the prevalence of obesity among students in Mosul city was 96 (11.7; 95% CI; 9.5–14.0), and the prevalence of overweight was 158 (19.3; 95% CI; 16.5–22.0). Significant associations were found between obesity and sex. Boys had a higher prevalence of obesity (16.7%) compared to girls (6.7%). Higher levels of maternal education, higher occupational levels of both parents, higher income, and higher socioeconomic status were associated with a higher prevalence of obesity compared to other levels. Students with a positive first-degree family history had a significantly higher risk (23.7%) compared to those without a family history (7.7%). Prolonged periods of physical activity, such as football and basketball, (≥ 2 hours/day) appeared to have a protective influence against obesity compared to shorter periods. Students who slept less than 8 hours were more likely to be obese (14.4%) compared to students who slept 8 hours or more (8.1%). Students who ate 3 meals or more per day were more likely to be obese (35.5%) compared to students who ate fewer than 3 meals per day (9.3%). Conclusion: This study in Mosul identified a concerning prevalence of overweight and obesity (31%) among secondary school students, with boys showing a higher prevalence of obesity. The study identified family history, dietary choices, physical activity levels, occupational levels of both parents, higher income, higher socioeconomic status, sleeping less than 8 hours, and frequent meals as significantly associated with an increase in obesity.