Prevalence of overweight, obesity and thinness in 9–10 year old children in Mauritius

Globalization and Health

Peter H Whincup²  Nigel Richards³  Karen R Siegel¹  Justin B Echouffo-Tcheugui¹  Alicja R Rudnicka²  Rishi Caleyachetty⁴ 

[1] Department of Global Heath, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, USA;Division of Population Health Sciences & Education, St George’s, University of London, London, UK;Centre for Applied Social Science Research, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius;St Edmund's College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0BN, UK

关键词: Thinness;    Obesity;    Mauritius;    Children;    Body mass index;   

Others  :  819452
DOI  :  10.1186/1744-8603-8-28

 received in 2011-04-26, accepted in 2012-06-29,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Objective

To document the prevalence of overweight, obesity and thinness in 9–10 year old children in Mauritius.

Methods

412 boys and 429 girls aged 9–10 years from 23 primary schools were selected using stratified cluster random sampling. All data was cross-sectional and collected via anthropometry and self-administered questionnaire. Outcome measures were BMI (kg/m²), prevalence of overweight, obesity (International Obesity Task Force definitions) and thinness (low BMI for age). Linear and logistic regression analyses, accounting for clustering at the school level, were used to assess associations between gender, ethnicity, school location, and school's academic performance (average) to each outcome measure.

Results

The distribution of BMI was marginally skewed with a more pronounced positive tail in the girls. Median BMI was 15.6 kg/m² in boys and 15.4 kg/m² in girls, respectively. In boys, prevalence of overweight was 15.8% (95% CI: 12.6, 19.6), prevalence of obesity 4.9% (95% CI: 3.2, 7.4) and prevalence of thinness 12.4% (95% CI: 9.5, 15.9). Among girls, 18.9% (95% CI: 15.5, 22.9) were overweight, 5.1% (95% CI: 3.4, 7.7) were obese and 13.1% (95% CI: 10.2, 16.6) were thin. Urban children had a slightly higher mean BMI than rural children (0.5 kg/m², 95% CI: 0.01, 1.00) and were nearly twice as likely to be obese (6.7% vs. 4.0%; adjusted odds ratio 1.6; 95% CI: 0.9, 3.5). Creole children were less likely to be classified as thin compared to Indian children (adjusted odds ratio 0.3, 95% CI: 0.2, 0.6).

Conclusion

Mauritius is currently in the midst of nutritional transition with both a high prevalence of overweight and thinness in children aged 9–10 years. The coexistence of children representing opposite sides of the energy balance equation presents a unique challenge for policy and interventions. Further exploration is needed to understand the specific causes of the double burden of malnutrition and to make appropriate policy recommendations.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Caleyachetty et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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