الفهرس 
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Abstract
SUMMARY
ver the past 30 years, childhood overweight/obesity, often
beginning in infancy and toddlerhood, has reached
epidemic proportions, particularly among minority and/or lowincome
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 was:
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 was conducted on 2 groups:
Group 1 1025 were 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 was
calculated. All measures were plotted on the percentiles for age.
The percentage of obese and overweight children was
calculated.
Group 2 includes 150 children, 100 obese children and 50
normal weight children with age ranging between
6 and 12 years.
All 150 subjects were 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
a) Systemic examination and blood pressure measurements.
b) 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 were subjected to weight reduction
program which includes diet regimen, exercise and behavioral
modification.
All anthropometric and laboratory measures were
measured again after the 6 months intervention.
The study revealed the following:
1) Prevalence of overweight and obesity was 24.39% and
19.90% respectively among screened primary school
children. It was more common among boys compared to
girls.
2) Serum iron, ferritin and transferrin saturation were
significantly lower in obese children compared to control.
3) Soluble transferrin receptor was significantly higher in
obese children compared to control and was positively
correlated to body mass index.
4) Serum triglycerides was significantly higher in obese
children but there was no difference between patients and
control as regards total cholesterol.
5) After the weight reduction program, children who succeeded
to lose weight showed improvement in the iron status and
decrease in soluble transferrin receptor