Premium
Overweight is Prevalent among Cameroonian Women and is Associated with Increased Waist Circumference, Region, and Household Characteristics
Author(s) -
EngleStone Reina,
Nankap Martin,
Ndjebayi Alex,
Friedman Avital,
Tarini Ann,
Brown Kenneth
Publication year - 2015
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.29.1_supplement.579.2
Subject(s) - overweight , waist , medicine , obesity , demography , circumference , body mass index , geometry , mathematics , sociology
We examined the prevalence of overweight and obesity, and associated household and dietary risk factors, in a national sample of Cameroonian women and children, and the change in these values within urban areas after 3 y. In a 2009 national survey (3 strata: South, North, Yaoundé/Douala, 30 clusters/stratum, 10 households/cluster), information on dietary intake, household characteristics, and height/length and weight were obtained from women 15‐49 y and children 12‐59 mo. A 2012 study in Yaoundé/Douala surveyed the same 30 clusters; in addition to the above measures, women's waist and hip circumferences were measured. In 2009, 32% of non‐pregnant women had BMI 蠅 25.0 and 11% of women had BMI 蠅 30. Prevalence of BMI 蠅 25 differed among regions (40% South, 11% North, 48% Yaoundé/Douala), but not between urban and rural areas (36 vs 27%, P=0.11). Greater maternal age, TV ownership, and, in the North, socio‐economic status, were associated with BMI 蠅 25. Weight‐for‐height Z score > 2SD among children was < 4% in all regions. Mean BMI among women in Yaoundé/Douala was 26.0 and 26.9 kg/m 2 and BMI 蠅 25 was 48% and 57%, respectively, in 2009 and 2012 (P > 0.1). Overweight/obese women had greater waist‐to‐hip ratios and were more likely to have waist circumference > 88 cm compared to women with BMI < 25 (P < 0.001). The results indicate that overweight/obesity is prevalent among women in some regions of Cameroon. A comprehensive public health strategy is needed to combine chronic disease prevention with efforts to address micronutrient deficiencies and infectious diseases.