Abstract
Introduction In recent decades, the developing countries of Southeast Asia, including the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), have experienced a rapid growth of their urban population. Partly as a result of that, issues of undernutrition and overnutrition became a significant public health problem. Objective To examine the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their related factors, among the school-attending adolescents in the Lao capital of Vientiane. Methods A cross-sectional data on 300 adolescents aged 15–19 were collected during the months of March, April, and May 2018 by means of a self-administrated questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were used to obtain data on height and weight. Pearson's chi-squared test, Fisher exact tests, and univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were applied in the course of the statistical analysis. Results The study found a high prevalence of overweight/obesity (23.3%) and thinness (10.3%). Poor eating habits were noted in 67.0% of adolescents, even though 78.0% of them had a good knowledge of nutrition. Factors significantly associated with the overweight/obesity were low physical activities (aOR = 18.3; 95% CI: 5.51–60.66) and adolescents living with their guardians (aOR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.08–0.79). Results also indicated that, in 47.3% of the cases, teachers, acting as a source of health and nutrition information, can prevent the risk of adolescents' overweight/obesity (aOR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.11–3.80) but not their thinness (aOR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.17–0.88). Conclusions Laotian adolescents are facing the spectrum of malnutrition in urban areas. To improve adolescents' nutritional status, there is a need for a collaborative approach of public health agencies that would address the issues of an effective food and nutrition policy. The school curricula should also include programs on nutrition and physical education.
Highlights
In recent decades, the developing countries of Southeast Asia, including the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), have experienced a rapid growth of their urban population
In East and Southeast Asia, increasing urbanization and socioeconomic development have led to changes in eating habits and physical activities associated with rising obesity and high undernutrition in adults and children [1]. e World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that overweight and obesity among adolescents aged 5–19 had risen from just 4% in 1975 to more than 18% in 2016 [2]
Discussion is is the first study among urban adolescents in Lao PDR exploring the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and thinness and their association with several modifiable lifestyle and socioeconomic factors. e findings of the study indicate that 23.3% of boys and girls were affected by overweight/obesity, almost a twofold increase from 13% reported by Phouapanya in a 2015 research conducted among high school students in Vientiane. e results of this study showed a higher prevalence of overweight/ obesity when compared with the global statistic (18%) and the neighbouring Vietnam (17.3%) [16, 17]. e WHO found that most overweight or obese children lived in developing countries and that this problem was increasing faster than in the developed countries [18]
Summary
The developing countries of Southeast Asia, including the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), have experienced a rapid growth of their urban population. In 47.3% of the cases, teachers, acting as a source of health and nutrition information, can prevent the risk of adolescents’ overweight/obesity (aOR 2.05, 95% CI 1.11–3.80) but not their thinness (aOR 0.4, 95% CI 0.17–0.88). In East and Southeast Asia, increasing urbanization and socioeconomic development have led to changes in eating habits and physical activities associated with rising obesity and high undernutrition in adults and children [1]. In the AsiaPacific region, this has become a significant public health issue, mirroring the WHO 2017 report that a one-third of low- and middle-income countries were facing a double burden of malnutrition [5]. Is study is focusing on that important public health issue in an effort to assess the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and thinness among urban area adolescents in Vientiane According to the LSIS 2011-12, 44% of children under five years of age are stunted and 27% are underweight. ese findings provide a clear picture of the severity of adolescents’ nutritional problem in Laos [9]. is study is focusing on that important public health issue in an effort to assess the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and thinness among urban area adolescents in Vientiane
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