الفهرس 
AcknowledgmentOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Obesity, the most important nutritional disorder of modern times, is a condition with a multifactorial etiology. It occurs as a result of a lifestyle that promotes a positive energy balance, that is an energy dense diet with a high degree of sedentariness over a long period of time, in the presence of an inherited susceptibility to become obese. It’s health consequences are many, ranging from chronic debilitating diseases to premature death where it is ranked as the second cause of avoidable death. Management of obesity must be multidisciplinary and long-term. Hypocaloric diets to decrease energy intake are most commonly used along with physical activity to increase expenditure. Behavioral modification is the third essential component of management while drugs and surgery are used in more resistant cases. However, the prevention of obesity remains much more effective than its treatment. Obesity is increasing worldwide in epidemic proportions, making it today an issue of major public health concern. The general aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of obesity among adolescent school children in Alexandria and to identify the different factors contributing to its occurrence. More specific objectives were to delineate the role of dietary factors and eating patterns in relation to obesity and to identify the present status of adolescent anthropometry. The study was conducted in two phases during the scholastic year of 2001/2. The first phase was the cross-sectional study.