Prevalence and Factors Associated with Overweight and Obesity among Primary School Children (9-14 Years) in a Selected Area of Dhaka, Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study

Prevalence and contributing factors of intestinal parasitic infections among school children with malnutrition in Hetauda, Nepal: A cross-sectional study

Background and Aims

With existing undernutrition in the developing world, the prevalence of obesity is increasing rapidly. Some studies reported an association of intestinal parasitic infection (IPIs) with undernutrition while few recent studies reported an inverse association of IPIs with overweight and obesity. This study evaluated the comparative risk and associated factors of IPIs among under (body mass index [BMI] < 18.5), normal (BMI: 18.5-24.9) and overweight (BMI > 24.9) school-aged adolescents.

Methods

A total of 105 fecal samples were collected, with 35 samples from each group. The collected samples were tested for the presence of intestinal parasites via concentration method, and the parasites were identified morphologically.

Results

Overall prevalence of IPIs was 5.71% with 3 protozoa viz Giardia lamblia (2.86%), Entamoeba histolytica (1.90%) and Endolimax nana (0.95%). Univariate and multivariable regression analysis indicated none of the nutritional, socioeconomic status, demographic, lifestyle and behavioral characteristics were significantly associated with the prevalence of overall IPIs. Yet, significant numbers of male reported undernutrition and elevated risk of IPIs in this study population.

Conclusion

Despite low prevalence of IPIs in this study, risk of IPIs is attributable to individual differences in behavior like "not using soap for hand washing". Relatively elevated malnutrition with risky hygiene behaviors, male adolescents appeared as risky cluster of school age population.

Prevalence, inequality and associated factors of overweight/obesity among Bangladeshi adolescents aged 15-19 years

BACKGROUND

The objective of the current study was to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of overweight/obesity among Bangladeshi adolescents aged 15-19 y and to identify whether wealth-related inequality exists for overweight/obesity among Bangladeshi older adolescents.

METHODS

We analyzed publicly available national representative secondary data from the 2019-2020 Bangladesh Adolescent Health and Wellbeing Survey. This cross-sectional survey was carried out among 18 249 adolescents aged 15-19 y regardless of their marital status using a two-stage stratified sampling technique (the data of 9128 eligible adolescents were included in this analysis). The WHO reference population for body mass index-for-age (1+Z score) was considered as overweight/obesity.

RESULTS

We found that girls had significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence of overweight/obesity (11.63%) than boys (8.25%); however, their biological sex as well their age were not significantly associated with higher odds of overweight/obesity. Those who were in their higher grade (grade 11 and higher) in the school and had been exposed to media were more likely (1.67 and 1.39 times, respectively) to be overweight/obesity compared with primary grade (0-5) and those who experienced no media exposure, respectively. Inequality analysis revealed that adolescents belonging to wealthy households had significantly higher rates of overweight/obesity than those in poorer households (concentration index=0.093).

CONCLUSIONS

The study exhibited the multifaceted nature of overweight/obesity among Bangladeshi older teenagers, revealing that their school grade, exposure to media content and wealth-related inequality emerged as significant contributing factors. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions and public health strategies to address the escalating burden of overweight and obesity in this age group.

Predictors of obesity among school-age children in Debre Berhan City, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Obesity causes a serious diet-related chronic disease, including type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, osteoarthritis, and certain forms of cancer. In Sub- Saharan Africa including Ethiopia, most nutritional interventions mainly focused on a child undernutrition and ignored the impacts of obesity among children. In Ethiopia, the magnitude and associated factors of obesity among school-age children were not clearly described. Therefore this study assesses the predictors of obesity among school- age children in Debre Berhan City, Ethiopia, 2022.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study design was conducted from June to July, 2022. Participants were selected by using multistage sampling method. Data were collected using pre-tested and structured questions. Data were coded and entered in Epi-data version 4.6 and exported and analyzed using SPSS version 25.

RESULT

A total of 600 children were participating in the study. The prevalence of obesity was 10.7% (95% CI: 8.3, 13.2). In this study, attending at private school (AOR = 4.24, 95% CI: 1.58, 11.32), children aged between 10-12years (AOR = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.30, 5.48), soft drink available in home (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.25,18.13), Loneliness (AOR = 1.67 95% CI: 1.12, 3.15) and mothers with occupational status of daily labour (AOR = 8.54 95% CI: 1.12, 65.39) were significantly associated with childhood obesity.

CONCLUSION

In this study, the overall magnitude of childhood obesity was (10.7%) which means one in eleven children and relatively high as compare to the EDHS survey. Therefore, more attention should be given to strengthening physical activities, providing nutritional education, and creating community awareness about healthy diets as well as other preventive measures.