ABSTRACT
A case control study was conducted in Dhaka city to measure the energy intake and expenditure among 220 obese children of 4-10 years age group and 220 randomly selected age and sex matched controls. A 24 hour dietary recall was used to assess the energy intake. Data on energy expenditure was obtained by 24 hour physical activity recall. The mean energy intake of obese children (2056 +/- 751 kcal/d) was found to be significantly higher (P<0.001) compared to the non obese (1508 +/- 529 kcal/d). No sex difference was found in both obese and non obese groups. Mean energy expenditure of the obese children (1868 +/- 313 kcal/d vs 1495 +/- 200 kcal/d) was significantly higher than the non-obese (P<0.001). Of the obese, boys expended more energy than the girls (P=0.01). Furthermore, physical activity level (1.40 +/- 0.09 vs 1.35 +/- 0.14) was significantly higher among the non obese than their obese counterpart (P<0.001). However, energy balance was significantly higher among the obese (P<0.001). Dose response of energy balance shows the estimated relative risk of obesity increases with higher level of energy balance (P<0.001). The findings of this study revealed that energy balance as a result of higher energy intake and lower energy expenditure was one of the important risk factors for the development of obesity among the children of Dhaka city. Thus, appropriate interventions like behavioural change regarding food habits and physical activities are recommended.