Abstract
BackgroundThere is little information about height and weight status of Palestinian adolescents. The objective of this paper was to assess the prevalence of stunting, underweight, and overweight/obesity among Palestinian school adolescents (13-15 years) and associated sociodemographic factors in 2 major governorates in the West Bank.MethodsA Cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2005 comprising 1942 students in 65 schools in Ramallah and Hebron governorates. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires from students and parents. Weights and heights were measured. Overweight and obesity were assessed using the 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reference and the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) criteria. Stunting and underweight were assessed using the 2000 CDC reference.ResultsOverweight/obesity was more prevalent in Ramallah than in Hebron and affected more girls than boys. Using the 2000 CDC reference, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Ramallah among boys was 9.6% and 8.2%, respectively versus 15.6% and 6.0% among girls (P < 0.01). In Hebron, the corresponding figures were 8.5% and 4.9% for boys and 13.5% and 3.4% for girls (P < 0.01). Using the IOTF criteria, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among boys in Ramallah was 13.3% and 5.2%, respectively versus 18.9% and 3.3% for girls. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among boys in Hebron was 10.9% and 2.2%, respectively versus 14.9% and 2.0% for girls. Overweight/obesity was associated with high standard of living (STL) among boys and with the onset of puberty among girls. More boys were underweight than girls, and the prevalence was higher in Hebron (12.9% and 6.0% in boys and girls, respectively (P < 0.01)) than in Ramallah (9.7% and 3.1% in boys and girls, respectively (p < 0.01)). The prevalence of stunting was similar in both governorates, and was higher among boys (9.2% and 9.4% in Ramallah and Hebron, respectively) than among girls (5.9% and 4.2% in Ramallah and Hebron, respectively). Stunting was negatively associated with father's education among boys and with urban residence, medium STL and onset of puberty among girls.ConclusionUnder- and overnutrition co-exist among Palestinian adolescents, with differences between sexes. Region, residence, STL, and onset of puberty were associated factors.
Highlights
There is little information about height and weight status of Palestinian adolescents
Palestinian society has been undergoing nutrition transition [9], where studies have shown nutrition-related chronic diseases and their risk factors such as heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, smoking, sedentary lifestyle and obesity to be prevalent among Palestinians [9]
OR: Odds ratios, 95%CI: 95% confidence intervals *P < 0.05 **P < 0.01 ***P < 0.001 aOverweight/obesity were defined using the 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reference. bHousehold standard of living index (STL) was based on the possession of 16 household amenities; each item given a value of 1. cPresent household economic situation index was formed based on 4 questions: - "Do you have enough money to cover family needs now?" "At the present time, do you have any debts?" At the present time, to what extent do you have to postpone paying bills?" and "During the past school year, did you have to borrow money to cover family needs?" dFood availability was based on the question: is there enough food for all family members on daily basis now?
Summary
There is little information about height and weight status of Palestinian adolescents. The objective of this paper was to assess the prevalence of stunting, underweight, and overweight/obesity among Palestinian school adolescents (13-15 years) and associated sociodemographic factors in 2 major governorates in the West Bank. The rise in obesity and chronic diseases worldwide has been linked to urbanization, which entails nutrition transition and sedentary lifestyle [7]. Palestinian society has been undergoing nutrition transition [9], where studies have shown nutrition-related chronic diseases and their risk factors such as heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, smoking, sedentary lifestyle and obesity to be prevalent among Palestinians [9]. At the same time, stunting which is associated with chronic undernutrition, has been increasing among Palestinian children younger than 5 years of age from 7.2% in 1996 to 10.2% in 2006 [10]
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