Abstract
BackgroundThe study aimed to estimate the prevalence and correlates of underweight and overweight/obesity among adults in Afghanistan.MethodsNational cross-sectional survey data of 3779 persons aged 18–69 years were analysed. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate factors associated with underweight and overweight/obesity relative to normal weight.ResultsIn all, 7.8% of the study sample was underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), 49.5% had normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m2), 25.5% overweight (25.0–29.9 kg/m2), and 17.2% obesity. In adjusted multinomial logistic regression, factors negatively associated with underweight were male sex (adjusted relative risk ratio (ARRR): 0.30, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15–0.58) and hypertension (ARRR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.27–0.95) and factors positively associated with underweight were sedentary behaviour (ARRR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.11–3.10) and current tobacco use (ARRR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.08–6.16). Factors positively associated with overweight/obesity were aged 30–44 years (ARRR: 2.00, CI: 1.51–2.66) and aged 45–69 years (ARRR: 1.58, CI: 1.09–2.31) (compared to 18–29 years) (ARRR: 1.28, CI: 1.14–2.18), hypertension (ARRR: 2.74, CI: 1.89–3.96), and type 2 diabetes (ARRR: 1.82, CI: 1.13–2.94), and high physical activity (ARRR: 0.70, CI: 0.50–0.98) was negatively associated with overweight/obesity.ConclusionAlmost one in ten adult respondents were underweight and more than two in five were overweight/obese, confirming a dual burden of malnutrition in Afghanistan.
Highlights
Worldwide, among adults, the prevalence of undernutrition (18.5 < kg/m2) was 8.8% among men and 9.7% among women, and the prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) was 10.8% among men and 14.9% among women [1]
In adjusted multinomial logistic regression, factors negatively associated with underweight were male sex (adjusted relative risk ratio (ARRR): 0.30, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15–0.58) and hypertension (ARRR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.27–0.95) and factors positively associated with underweight were sedentary behaviour (ARRR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.11–3.10) and current tobacco use (ARRR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.08–6.16)
Factors positively associated with overweight/obesity were aged 30–44 years (ARRR: 2.00, CI: 1.51–2.66) and aged 45–69 years (ARRR: 1.58, CI: 1.09–2.31) (ARRR: 1.28, CI: 1.14–2.18), hypertension (ARRR: 2.74, CI: 1.89–3.96), and type 2 diabetes (ARRR: 1.82, CI: 1.13–2.94), and high physical activity (ARRR: 0.70, CI: 0.50–0.98) was negatively associated with overweight/obesity
Summary
Among adults, the prevalence of undernutrition (18.5 < kg/m2) was 8.8% among men and 9.7% among women, and the prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) was 10.8% among men and 14.9% among women [1]. In the Eastern Mediterranean region, among adults,[2], ranging from 25 to 81.9% has been reported [3]. There are no national adult body weight status data for Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a lowincome country, its living standards are among the lowest in the world, it has a population of 36.6 million, life expectancy at birth was 52.8 years, and the adult literacy rate was 43% (55.5% among men and 29.8% among women) [9]. In a national study among women 15–49 years in Afghanistan, the prevalence of underweight was 8.6% [15]. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence and correlates of underweight and overweight/obesity among adults in Afghanistan
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