The world is witnessing a rapid epidemiological and nutritional transition characterized by persistent nutritional deficiencies with a concomitant increase in the prevalence of obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases associated with nutrition. These transitions have also been reported in the pediatric population. Obesity is one of the emerging health problems of growing importance.1 A child is defined as overweight if his/her BMI-for-age percentile is ≥85th percentile and 95th percentile while obesity refers to BMI- for-age ≥95th percentile.2 Childhood obesity has emerged as a significant health problem reaching epidemic levels in developed nations. In addition, a steady rise in obesity prevalence is also seen among children of developing nations with a higher predominance observed in females thought to be due to inherent hormonal differences.1 This was evident in a review of studies conducted in Indian children and adolescents which showed increasing overweight and obesity rates not just among the higher socio-economic groups but also in the lower income groups where underweight still remains a major problem.