Introduction: The double burden of malnutrition in developing countries is a challenge to peoplernhealth. Childhood obesity is related to an increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes,rnrespiratory disease and orthopedic disorders during childhood as well as its adverse effects inrnadulthood. Obesity in children is increasing worldwide. More than 10 percent children 5 to 17rnyears of age is obese.rnObjective: The overall purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of childhoodrnoverweight, obesity and its associated factors in elementary school children of Dire Dawa townrnEastern Ethiopia.rnMethods: The study was conducted in Dire Dawa town of Eastern Ethiopia from March 1st to 30th,rn2016. School based cross-sectional study design was applied. Participants were selected byrnmultistage sampling. Data was collected using pre-tested self-administered questionnaires, face tornface interview and weight and height measurements through trained eight data collectors. Datarnwere coded and entered in epi-data version 3.1 and exported and analyzed using SPSS version 21.rnBivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated withrnchildhood overweight and obesity. Statistical significance declared at p-value less than 0.05.rnResult: A total of 448 children and parents pairs were included in the study. The prevalence ofrnoverweight and obesity was (14.7% with 95% CI: 11.70, 18.02) and (5.8% with 95% CI: 3.61,rn8.00) respectively. Significant association with overweight and obesity was observed amongrnprivate school (AOR= 3.44, 95% CI: 1.39, 8.49), high family socioeconomic class (AOR=16.88,rn95%CI: 6.48, 23.97), sweet foods preference (AOR = 2.31, 95%CI: 1.04, 5.12), physical inactivityrnor not engaging in vigirous sport exercise (AOR=3.83, 95%CI: 1.50, 9.80) , sedentary life stylernlike spent free time in viewing television (AOR=3.57, 95%CI: 1.62, 7.86) and play computer gamern(AOR=4.59, 95%CI: 1.37, 15.37) for more than 6 hours, sleeping habit in afternoon (AOR= 2.58,rn95%CI: 1.00, 6.66) and not having close friends(AOR=2.98, 95%CI: 1.43, 6.24).rnConclusion and Recommendations: One out of seven children were overweight and one out ofrnseventeen were obese.Therefore more attention should be given to this childhood problem at eachrnlevel of stakeholder. Collaboration of the health, education and NGO sectors should be initiated.rnCreating awareness of the community on healthy diet, physical activates and reducing sedentaryrnbehavior through school and public media and other methods should be given emphasis.rnKeywords: Obesity, Overweight, Children, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia