Eureka! Institutional Repository

Many studies have focused on the effects of childhood obesity in health. High body mass index (BMI) accumulates risk factors for cardiovascular disease and other serious diseases. According to WHO data, childhood obesity is a significant health problem in countries in the Mediterranean Sea. Research at different levels in Greece have found that childhood obesity rates are among the highest in Europe. The purpose of this work is to investigate the levels of obesity in second and fourth grade students. One hundred and forty-six pupils of these classes from three elementary schools were therefore examined. The findings of the study highlight the issue of increased obesity among primary school students regardless of gender in Greece. In terms of gender, it appears that girls in 7th grade primary school have a higher rate of obesity than boys, as opposed to literature. The results for 9-year-old elementary school students are consistent with the literature, showing that boys have a higher rate of obesity than girls.