Aims and Scope

ReviewerCreditsTheory and Clinical Practice in Pediatrics (TCPP)  (eISSN:2529-749X) is an open access, continuously published, international, refereed  journal to pediatrics, publishing theoretical, clinical, and professional practice issues relevant to pediatrics, as broadly defined.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to the following:
• Developmental-Behavioral Medicine  
• Neonatology
• Pediatric allergy and immunology
• Pediatric cardiology
• Pediatric critical care
• Pediatric emergency medicine
• Pediatric endocrinology
• Pediatric gastroenterology
• Pediatric hematology
• Pediatric infectious disease
• Pediatric nephrology
• Pediatric neuropsychology
• Pediatric oncology
• Pediatric pulmonology
• Genetics

2018-04-10

Indexed by Academic Databases

Theory and Clinical Practice in Pediatrics (TCPP) is indexed by Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, CQVIP, and being indexed by other authoritative academic databases is under application.

Vol 6 (2025)

Published: 2025-06-20

Abstract views: 169   PDF downloads: 39  
2025-06-20

Page 145-150

Prevalence of Abdominal Obesity and Associated Factors Among Secondary School Students in Kisangani, DRC: A Cross-Sectional Study

blankpage Mokoto Lokoni Véronique, Tagoto Tepungipame, Boande Losangola Gaston, Tacite Kpanya Mazoba, Bomane Isombeko Diallo, Charles Kayembe Tshilumba, Joris Losimba Likwela

Background: Adolescent obesity is a growing public health concern globally, including in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of abdominal obesity among school-aged adolescents in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study from October to December 2023 in 15 secondary schools across five communes of Kisangani. A total of 1,416 students aged 11 to 18 years were enrolled. Data were collected using structured interviews and anthropometric measurements. Abdominal obesity was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) 2007 pediatric criteria. Bivariate analyses were performed to identify associated factors.
Results: The overall prevalence of abdominal obesity was 12.35%, with a significantly higher rate in girls (15.83%) than in boys (3.10%). Key associated factors included female sex (OR = 5.85; p < 0.0001), sedentary behavior (watching TV > 3 hours/day), use of motorized transport to school, frequent meat consumption, and having three or more meals per day. Co-occurrence of other metabolic risk factors such as elevated triglycerides, high fasting glucose, and low HDL-C was observed in up to 2.33% of adolescents, meeting the criteria for metabolic syndrome.
Conclusion: Abdominal obesity and its associated risk factors are prevalent among adolescents in Kisangani, especially among girls. Immediate public health interventions focused on nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle habits are essential to curb the rising trend of adolescent obesity in urban areas of the DRC.

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Tarro-photo  ISSN: 2529-749X
 Abbreviation: Theory Clin Pract Pediatr
 Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Giullio Filippo Tarro (Italy)
 Publishing Frequency: Continuous publication
 Article Processing Charges (APC): Click   here   for more details
 Publishing Model: Open Access