Prevalence and factors associated with underweight, overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age in India
Abstract Introduction Although the prevalence of underweight is declining among Indian women, the prevalence of overweight/obesity is increasing. This study examined the prevalence and factors associated with underweight and overweight/obesity among reproductive-aged (i.e., 15–49 years) women in Ind...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Global Health Research and Policy |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41256-019-0117-z |
| _version_ | 1818159601989713920 |
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| author | Gulam Muhammed Al Kibria Krystal Swasey Md Zabir Hasan Atia Sharmeen Brendan Day |
| author_facet | Gulam Muhammed Al Kibria Krystal Swasey Md Zabir Hasan Atia Sharmeen Brendan Day |
| author_sort | Gulam Muhammed Al Kibria |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Although the prevalence of underweight is declining among Indian women, the prevalence of overweight/obesity is increasing. This study examined the prevalence and factors associated with underweight and overweight/obesity among reproductive-aged (i.e., 15–49 years) women in India. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2015–16 National Family Health Survey. The Asian and World Health Organization (WHO) recommended cutoffs for body mass index (BMI) were used to categorize body weight. The Asian and WHO BMI cutoffs for combined overweight/obesity were ≥ 23 and ≥ 25 kg/m2, respectively. Both recommendations had the same cutoff for underweight, < 18.5 kg/m2. After prevalence estimation, logistic regression was applied to investigate associated factors. Results Among 647,168 women, the median age and BMI was 30 years and 21.0 kg/m2, respectively. Based on the Asian cutoffs, the overall prevalence of underweight was 22.9%, overweight was 22.6%, and obesity was 10.7%, compared to 15.5% overweight and 5.1% obesity as per WHO cutoffs. The prevalence and odds of underweight were higher among young, nulliparous, contraceptive non-user, never-married, Hindu, backward castes, less educated, less wealthy, and rural women. According to both cutoffs, women who were older, ever-pregnant, ever-married, Muslims, castes other than backwards, highly educated, wealthy, and living in urban regions had higher prevalence and odds of overweight/obesity. Conclusion The prevalence of both non-normal weight categories (i.e., underweight and overweight/obesity) was high. A large proportion of women are possibly at higher risks of cardiovascular and reproductive adverse events due to these double nutrition burdens. Implementing large-scale interventions based on these results is essential to address these issues. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:48:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-13177e2836f74c93a5ec3c5605b03743 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2397-0642 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:48:35Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Health Research and Policy |
| spelling | doaj.art-13177e2836f74c93a5ec3c5605b037432022-12-22T00:59:38ZengBMCGlobal Health Research and Policy2397-06422019-09-014111210.1186/s41256-019-0117-zPrevalence and factors associated with underweight, overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age in IndiaGulam Muhammed Al Kibria0Krystal Swasey1Md Zabir Hasan2Atia Sharmeen3Brendan Day4Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of MedicineDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of MedicineDepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthSchool of Community Health and Policy, Morgan State UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of MedicineAbstract Introduction Although the prevalence of underweight is declining among Indian women, the prevalence of overweight/obesity is increasing. This study examined the prevalence and factors associated with underweight and overweight/obesity among reproductive-aged (i.e., 15–49 years) women in India. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2015–16 National Family Health Survey. The Asian and World Health Organization (WHO) recommended cutoffs for body mass index (BMI) were used to categorize body weight. The Asian and WHO BMI cutoffs for combined overweight/obesity were ≥ 23 and ≥ 25 kg/m2, respectively. Both recommendations had the same cutoff for underweight, < 18.5 kg/m2. After prevalence estimation, logistic regression was applied to investigate associated factors. Results Among 647,168 women, the median age and BMI was 30 years and 21.0 kg/m2, respectively. Based on the Asian cutoffs, the overall prevalence of underweight was 22.9%, overweight was 22.6%, and obesity was 10.7%, compared to 15.5% overweight and 5.1% obesity as per WHO cutoffs. The prevalence and odds of underweight were higher among young, nulliparous, contraceptive non-user, never-married, Hindu, backward castes, less educated, less wealthy, and rural women. According to both cutoffs, women who were older, ever-pregnant, ever-married, Muslims, castes other than backwards, highly educated, wealthy, and living in urban regions had higher prevalence and odds of overweight/obesity. Conclusion The prevalence of both non-normal weight categories (i.e., underweight and overweight/obesity) was high. A large proportion of women are possibly at higher risks of cardiovascular and reproductive adverse events due to these double nutrition burdens. Implementing large-scale interventions based on these results is essential to address these issues.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41256-019-0117-zBody weightUnderweightOverweightObesityIndiaPrevalence |
| spellingShingle | Gulam Muhammed Al Kibria Krystal Swasey Md Zabir Hasan Atia Sharmeen Brendan Day Prevalence and factors associated with underweight, overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age in India Global Health Research and Policy Body weight Underweight Overweight Obesity India Prevalence |
| title | Prevalence and factors associated with underweight, overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age in India |
| title_full | Prevalence and factors associated with underweight, overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age in India |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and factors associated with underweight, overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age in India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and factors associated with underweight, overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age in India |
| title_short | Prevalence and factors associated with underweight, overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age in India |
| title_sort | prevalence and factors associated with underweight overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age in india |
| topic | Body weight Underweight Overweight Obesity India Prevalence |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41256-019-0117-z |
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