Trends in prevalence of overweight and obesity among South African and European adolescents: a comparative outlook

BMC Public Health

Research

Arnfinn Helleve¹  Anne-Siri Fismen²  Charles Hongoro³  Ronel Sewpaul⁴  Olufunke Alaba⁵  Janetta Harbron⁶  Emmanuel Nwosu⁶  Priscilla Reddy⁷ 

[1] Centre for Evaluation of Public Health Measures, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway;Department of Health Promotion, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway;Developmental, Capable and Ethical State Division, Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), 0001, Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa;Health & Wellbeing, Human & Social Capabilities Division (HSC), Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), Private Bag X9182, Cape Town, 8000, 116 - 118 Merchant House, Buitengracht Street, 8001, Cape Town, South Africa;Health Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa;Research Centre for Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport (HPALS), Division of Physiological Sciences, Human Biology Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, 7935, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa;School of Education, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa;

关键词: Adolescents;    Obesity;    Overweight;    South Africa;    Trends in prevalence;    Europe;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-022-14724-2

 received in 2022-04-25, accepted in 2022-11-24,  发布年份 2022

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSouth Africa has several national surveys with body weight-related data, but they are not conducted regularly. Hence, data on longitudinal trends and the recent prevalence of adolescent obesity are not readily available for both national and international reporting and use. This study collectively analysed nationally representative surveys over nearly 2 decades to investigate trends in prevalence of adolescent obesity in South Africa. Furthermore, it compared these data with similar continental report for 45 countries across Europe and North America including United Kingdom, Norway, Netherland, Sweden, Azerbaijan, etc. to identify at-risk sub-population for overweight and obesity among adolescents. MethodsThe study included primary data of adolescents (15 – 19 years) from South African national surveys (N = 27, 884; girls = 51.42%) conducted between 1998 and 2016. Adolescents’ data extracted include measured weight, height, sex, parent employment status, monthly allowance received, and family socioeconomic-related variables. Data were statistically analysed and visualized using chi-square of trends, Wald statistics, odds ratio and trend plots, and compared to findings from European survey report (N = 71, 942; girls = 51.23%). South African adolescents’ obesity and overweight data were categorized based on World Health Organization (WHO)’s growth chart and compared by sex to European cohort and by family socioeconomic status.ResultsBy 2016, 21.56% of South African adolescents were either obese or overweight, similar to the 21% prevalence reported in 2018 among European adolescents. Girls in South Africa showed higher trends for obesity and overweight compared to boys, different from Europe where, higher trends were reported among boys. South African Adolescents from upper socioeconomic families showed greater trends in prevalence of overweight and obesity than adolescents from medium and lower socioeconomic families. Mothers’ employment status was significantly associated with adolescents' overweight and obesity.ConclusionsOur study shows that by 2016, the prevalence of adolescent obesity was high in South Africa – more than 1 in 5 adolescents – which is nearly similar to that in Europe, yet South African girls may be at a greater odd for overweight and obesity in contrast to Europe, as well as adolescents from high earning families. South African local and contextual factors may be driving higher prevalence in specific sub-population. Our study also shows the need for frequent health-related data collection and tracking of adolescents’ health in South Africa.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2022

【 图 表 】

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Fig. 1