Abstract
BackgroundWHO estimated 20% of adolescents (10–19 years) have mental health problems. We examined the prevalence and associated risk predictors of overweight/obesity and perceived stress using eating behaviors and physical activity among school-and-college-going urban adolescents in Bangladesh.MethodsA cross-sectional study with a multistage sampling technique was employed to select 4609 adolescent students, aged 13–19 years, from all eight Bangladesh divisions during January–June 2019. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire containing Turconi Physical Activity Questionnaire (PAQ), Adolescent Stress Questionnaire (ASQ), Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), and Anthropometric measurements. Logistic regression and different association measures assessed relationships among adolescent characteristics.ResultsThe major 61.5% of adolescents were in moderate-to-extremely-severe levels of stress, 28.2% were overweight/obese, only 2.7% had a very active lifestyle, and 30.5% had a sedentary lifestyle. Perceived stress was positively and significantly correlated with eating behaviors and body mass index, whereas physical activity was significantly associated with the prevalence of overweight/obesity and high stress. The prevalence of overweight/obesity (53.8%) and high stress (52.5%) was higher in males. Adolescents’ obesity was 2.212 times more likely who had a sedentary lifestyle (95% CI 1.377–3.552), 1.13 times more likely for those who had experienced stress due to school/leisure conflict (95% CI 1.051–1.222), and 1.634 times more likely for those who were tempted by restrained eating behavior (95% CI 1.495–1.786).ConclusionStress on secondary school-and-college-going students needs to be recognized, and strategies need to be developed to improve adolescents’ mental health.
Highlights
IntroductionResearch has shown the negative impact of stress in adolescence, associating it with the presence of internalized or externalized symptomatology and with lower levels of life satisfaction [5, 6]
Adolescence, a unique life stage of the socialization process, is defined as a period of human growth and development that occurs after childhood and before adulthood and, according to the United Nations (UN), includesRoy et al Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition (2021) 40:54 events have been identified, the importance of daily stress has recently come to light [4].In recent decades, research has shown the negative impact of stress in adolescence, associating it with the presence of internalized or externalized symptomatology and with lower levels of life satisfaction [5, 6]
The major 55.7% of adolescents were in moderate stress, followed by 38.5% in a low stress, while only 5.7% were in high stress
Summary
Research has shown the negative impact of stress in adolescence, associating it with the presence of internalized or externalized symptomatology and with lower levels of life satisfaction [5, 6]. The levels of stress increase significantly [7]. Adolescents are highly stressed about school performance and attendance, future uncertainty, school/leisure conflict, home life, emerging adult responsibility, romantic pressure, etc. School-related stresses are regarded as an important source of adolescent stress [8]. As emotional stress has been linked to health issues, adolescents need to learn to have confidence in themselves. We examined the prevalence and associated risk predictors of overweight/obesity and perceived stress using eating behaviors and physical activity among school-and-college-going urban adolescents in Bangladesh
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