Factors Associated with Overweight and Obesity in the Schools of Parakou in 2017

J Agossou,M G Kpanidja,B Ayivi,R Ahodègnon,F Alihonou,F Mohamed Agbeille,R Houffon,A Noudamadjo,J D Adédémy

doi:10.4236/ojped.2020.101005

Abstract

Introduction: The dietary changes and the new lifestyles which occurred in low-income countries like Benin resulted in a nutritional transition with its burden of overweight and obesity among the child and adolescent population who is still suffering from undernutrition. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with overweight and obesity in the schools of Parakou in 2017. Patients and Methods: This research work is a cross-sectional descriptive and analytic study carried out from May to June 2017 in the state-owned and private high/secondary schools of Parakou. It focused on a representative sample of 730 high school students randomly selected according to the WHO two-stage cluster sampling technique. The weight and size of each of the students included in the study were measured; and then their body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The data related to respondents’ dietary pattern and lifestyle were collected. Those data were processed using the software Epi Info version 7.2.1. The prevalence ratio (PR) was used to measure associations with their confidence interval and the difference was considered significant when p i.e. a ratio of 1.1. Prevalence of overweight/obesity was estimated at 16.2% including 12.5% of overweight and 3.7% of obesity. The factors associated with overweight and obesity were female sex, excessive intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and drinks, low level of physical activity and family history of obesity. Conclusion: A behavior change regarding the different contributing factors is necessary to reverse the trends in overweight and obesity prevalence in the high/secondary schools in the District of Parakou.

Highlights

The dietary changes and the new lifestyles which occurred in low-income countries like Benin resulted in a nutritional transition with its burden of overweight and obesity among the child and adolescent population who is still suffering from undernutrition
This study aimed to identify the factors associated with overweight and obesity in the schools of Parakou in 2017
This study shows the real aspects of overweight and obesity in the secondary schools of the district of Parakou in 2017; it calls on authorities at all levels as well as students’ parents on the urgent need to respond to those health concerns

Summary

Introduction

The dietary changes and the new lifestyles which occurred in low-income countries like Benin resulted in a nutritional transition with its burden of overweight and obesity among the child and adolescent population who is still suffering from undernutrition. Patients and Methods: This research work is a cross-sectional descriptive and analytic study carried out from May to June 2017 in the state-owned and private high/secondary schools of Parakou. That double burden of malnutrition would be the outcome of nutritional transition in poor countries [2] In industrialized countries, it is acknowledged for more than three decades that the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents is growing exponentially and would be associated with their lifestyle and feeding behaviors [3]. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors associated with overweight and obesity in the general and vocational high/secondary schools of the District of Parakou in 2017

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion