Etude longitudinale du surpoids et de l’obésité chez les enfants scolarisés dans la commune de Constantine

Abstract

This study aims at determining the incidence of overweight and obesity in children aged, from 7 to 8 years, attending school in the town of Constantine, with a follow-up for three years 2009-2010, 2011-2012 and 2012-2013. The determinants of obesity are multiple and complex interactions. Beyond the individual biological or genetic factors that can not be ignored, obesity is primarily the result of an energy imbalance but this imbalance is strongly influenced by the child's environment, as well as early throughout the life. We have also characterized in a second part of the risk factors associated with overweight. The third objective of this thesis was to investigate a relationship between fat taste and weight. Whether the oral sensitivity, in the obese, to oleic acid and normal weight children was the same. In other words, if they had the same fat taste detection thresholds or if this threshold was altered in obese children. There was a significant correlation between age and childhood obesity. The low level of education, corpulence of the parents, macrosomia seem to play an important role in the development of childhood obesity. Although the difference was not significant, obesity is more common in children with artificial feeding. Obese children are more sedentary compared to normal weight. Obese children took less often breakfast compared to normal weight ones. They also tended to take more snacks in the evening and throughout the day with high energy density foods. All children consumed foods high in fat, grains, starches, meats and fish and soft drinks during lunch and dinner. Obese children appear to have a significant reduction (40 times) in the gustatory perception of fat taste. These differences in taste sensitivity may be the result of polymorphism of CD36 gene. Early preventive actions, therefore, are necessary to stop and, if possible, reverse the progression of overweight/obesity.