Background: Obesity is associated with alterations in iron metabolism leading to iron deficiency.

Aim: to study the prevalence of obesity among primary school students, assess iron status among overweight/obese children with age ranging between 6 and 12 years and the effect of weight reduction program on iron status.

Patients and Methods: The study will be conducted on 2 groups. Group 1 will include 1025 primary school children recruited from 2 urban schools in Cairo with age ranging between 6 and 12. Anthropometric measures and prevalence of overweight/obesity will be assessed. Group 2 will include 100 obese children according to the CDC definition and 50 age and sex matched children with normal weight. All will be subjected to history taking, anthropometric measures, complete blood picture, iron profile and soluble transferrin receptor. Weight reduction program for 6 months will be done for obese children and all parameters will be re-ckecked.

SUMMARY Over the past 30 years, childhood overweight/obesity, often beginning in infancy and toddlerhood, has reached epidemic proportions, particularly among minority and/or low-income populations in high-income countries. Rates of pediatric obesity (BMI ≥ 95th percentile) have almost tripled over the past 25 years, with current estimates showing a prevalence rate of 16% for girls and 18% for boys. The prevalence of adolescent and childhood overweight and obesity in children living in Egypt, Brazil and Mexico has reached levels comparable to those seen in industrialized nations.

Obesity is associated with alterations in iron metabolism leading to iron deficiency which is probably the most prevalent single common micronutrient deficiency in the world today.

Aim of the study :

1. To assess iron status among overweight/ obese primary school children. With age ranging from 6 years till preadolescence or age 12 years with Tanner score ≤ 2.
2. To assess the effect of 6 months dieting program on iron status improvement in overweight/obese children.
3. To study the psychological basis of obesity in children as well as associated co-morbidities.
4. To assess the prevalence of obesity among primary school students.

The study will be conducted on 2 groups:

Group 1 1025 will be recruited from 2 urban primary schools with moderate-high social standards among children with age between 6 to 12 years.

Weight, height were measured and body mass index will be calculated. All measures will be plotted on the percentiles for age. The percentage of obese and overweight children will be calculated.

Group 2 will include 150 children, 100 obese children and 50 normal weight children with age ranging between 6 and 12 years.

All 150 subjects will be subjected to:

1. A questionnaire: inquiring about personal data, Socioeconomic data, family history of obesity, weight related attitudes, physical exercise performance, personal believes about diet (self-efficacy, barriers to change and dietary believes), previous trials to lose weight and school performance.

2. Full clinical examination: including

   1. Systemic examination and blood pressure measurements.
   2. Anthropometric measurements which include weight, height and body mass index.

3. Laboratory investigations: complete blood picture, serum iron, ferritin, transferrin saturation, total iron binding capacity, soluble transferrin receptor, serum triglycerides and serum cholesterol.

All obese children will be subjected to weight reduction program which includes diet regimen, exercise and behavioral modification.

All anthropometric and laboratory measures will be measured again after the 6 months intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Overweight and obese children according to BMI percentiles with age between 6 and 12 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Obesity caused by genetic syndromes, apparent endocrinal disease, psychiatric disorders or chronic inflammatory diseases (inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune disease, cancer treated within the last year).
• Children with chronic illness or blood disorders such as any identified risk for iron deficiency or a red cell disorder, vegan diet.
• Children with Tanner>2