Abstract
BackgroundOverweight/obesity among adolescents is an emerging public health issue worldwide. However, the evidence on the determinants of body weight status and lifestyle behaviors among Nepalese adolescents is limited. This study aims to explore the sleep characteristics, dietary habits, and physical activity and its association with body mass index (BMI) among Nepalese adolescents.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted between July and November 2019 among 627 randomly selected adolescents from eight schools located in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Nepal. A self-administrated structure questionnaire was used to collect the data. Anthropometric measurements (adolescent’s BMI), sleep characteristics, dietary habits, and physical activity were assessed using validated tools. Multinomial logistic regression analyses assessed the association between covariates and BMI categories. The statistical significance was considered at p-value < 0.05 and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsThe overall prevalence of underweight and overweight/obesity among adolescents was 9.1% (95% CI: 7.1–11.6) and 23.7% (95% CI: 20.6–27.7) respectively. In multinomial logistic regression, adolescents who reported sleep problem compared to those with no such problem (Relative risk ratio (RRR) = 13.37, 95% CI: 7.14–25.05), adolescents who had obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms (RRR = 3.21, 95% CI:1.31–7.86), who consumed soft drink ≥1 time/day in past 1 months (RRR = 5.44, 95% CI: 2.93–10.10), consumed high-fat dietary ≥2 times/day (RRR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.18–3.99), and had a habit of junk food consumptions (RRR = 5.71, 95% CI:2.55–12.82), adolescents who had 5–6 h/day sedentary behavior (RRR = 3.21, 95% CI: 1.14–9.09), adolescents from Terai/Madhesi castes (RRR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.19–6.64) and adolescents whose father was employed (RRR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.04–3.98) were at increased risk of being overweight/obesity. In contrast, adolescents aged 14–16 years had 71% lower (RRR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.16–0.52), and adolescents who consumed less than five food groups had 45% lower (RRR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.31–0.97) risk of being overweight/obesity compared to 12–14 years age groups and consumed more than five food groups respectively.ConclusionsThe findings of this study warrant immediate interventions to improve the lifestyle to reduce overweight/obesity among Nepalese adolescents. Creating a conducive environment, both at school and home is essential to encourage adolescents for the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors.
Highlights
Overweight/obesity among adolescents is an emerging public health issue worldwide
Study setting and design A cross-sectional study was conducted between July and November 2019, among adolescents aged 11–19 years in Kathmandu a Metropolitan City and capital of Nepal
Adolescents aged 14–16 years were 71% lower (RRR = 0.29, 95% confidence intervals (CIs): 0.16–0.52) and adolescents who had consumed less than five food groups had 45% lower (RRR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.31–0.97) risk of being overweight/obesity compared to 12–14 years age groups and who had consumed more than five food groups respectively
Summary
Overweight/obesity among adolescents is an emerging public health issue worldwide. Overweight and obesity among adolescents aged 10–19 years are emerging public health issues worldwide [1, 2]. The global prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents, aged 5–19 years, has increased rapidly from 4% in 1975 to 18% in 2016 [3, 4]. The prevalence is highest among the developed countries but there are increasing trends of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in urban areas of the developing countries [3, 6, 7]. South and Southeast Asian countries, such as Nepal, already faced the burden of underweight and the burden of overweight and obesity are increasing among children and adolescents, especially in the city areas of the country [3, 8, 9]. On the other hand, according to a recent global school-based student health survey report, about 11% of school-going Nepalese adolescents were underweight [13]
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