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Overweight and Obese Women Remain at Risk for Anemia in Countries Undergoing the Nutrition Transition
Author(s) -
Eckhardt Cara Louise,
Torheim Liv Elin,
Monterrubio Eric,
Barquera Simon,
Ruel Marie
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a986-c
Subject(s) - overweight , medicine , anemia , odds , nutrition transition , micronutrient , odds ratio , micronutrient deficiency , environmental health , demography , obesity , logistic regression , double burden , pathology , sociology
Diets in countries undergoing the nutrition transition are often of poor quality, with high intakes of energy‐dense foods but low intakes of micronutrients. Thus, overweight individuals may remain at risk for micronutrient deficiencies. This study compares the odds of anemia in overweight and obese (OVWT) (BMI> 25) versus non‐overweight (non‐OVWT) (BMI<25) women in three countries at different stages of the nutrition transition. Nationally representative data for women ages 18‐49 years from Mexico (1998 National Nutrition Survey), Peru and Egypt (2000 Demographic and Health Surveys) were analyzed. Logistic regression was used to test whether the odds of anemia differed by BMI category, controlling for sociodemographic factors. More than half of the women were OVWT in all three countries and the prevalence of OVWT reached 77% in Egypt. Anemia prevalence was similar across countries (28%, 31% and 23% in Egypt, Peru and Mexico respectively). In Egypt, the least developed country, OVWT women had significantly lower odds of anemia than non‐OVWT women (OR=0.78, 95% CI: 0.68, 0.90). Similar results were found in Peru, but the difference was smaller in magnitude (OR=0.83, 95% CI: 0.71, 0.96). In Mexico, the most developed country, there were no differences in the odds of anemia by BMI group. These findings show that being OVWT in countries undergoing the nutrition transition does not necessarily diminish the risk of anemia. Diet quality remains an important issue even among women with excessive energy intakes.