Sociodemographic and behavioural factors associated with body mass index among men and women in Nairobi slums: AWI-Gen Project

Background: Body mass index (BMI) is rising globally with a faster increase in urban areas in low- and middle-income countries. It is critical to identify modifiable risk factors for BMI to prevent the occurrence of associated health consequences. Objective: To investigate socio-demographic, behavio...

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Main Authors: Gershim Asiki, Shukri F. Mohamed, David Wambui, Caroline Wainana, Stella Muthuri, Michèle Ramsay, Catherine Kyobutungi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2018-11-01
Series:Global Health Action
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2018.1470738
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author Gershim Asiki
Shukri F. Mohamed
David Wambui
Caroline Wainana
Stella Muthuri
Michèle Ramsay
Catherine Kyobutungi
author_facet Gershim Asiki
Shukri F. Mohamed
David Wambui
Caroline Wainana
Stella Muthuri
Michèle Ramsay
Catherine Kyobutungi
author_sort Gershim Asiki
collection DOAJ
description Background: Body mass index (BMI) is rising globally with a faster increase in urban areas in low- and middle-income countries. It is critical to identify modifiable risk factors for BMI to prevent the occurrence of associated health consequences. Objective: To investigate socio-demographic, behavioural and biological factors associated with BMI in Nairobi slums. Methods: In 2014-2015, a cross sectional study of men and women aged 40–60 years in Nairobi slums (Korogocho and Viwandani) was conducted. Data were collected on socio-demographic, behavioural and biological characteristics. Mean BMI, overweight and obesity were computed. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis was conducted separately for men and women to explore factors associated with BMI. Results: In total, 1942 study participants (54.4%, women) with a mean age (SD) of 48.3 (5.3) years and 48.8(5.6) years for women and men respectively were recruited. Mean BMI was higher among women than men (27.6 versus 22.8; p < 0.001). More women were overweight (30.9% versus 19.6%; p < 0.001) and obese (32.1% versus 5.1%; p < 0.001) than men. Among men, BMI was independently associated with wealth index, bread consumption and self-reported diabetes and was negatively associated with current tobacco smoking, HIV and TB infections. Among women, BMI was independently associated with wealth, current non-problematic drinking, and sedentary time, but was lower among other ethnicities compared to Kikuyu, among current smokers, women with longer sleep, and those with HIV infection and tuberculosis. Wealth index contributed the most variance in BMI among women and men (10.4%, 7.5%, respectively), but behavioural factors (7.4%) among men and biological factors (6.5%) among women accounted for most of the additional BMI variance. Conclusions: Adults aged 40–60 years in the urban slums of Nairobi have a high BMI associated with wealth. Bread consumption by men and sedentary life among women are the main risky behaviours that need urgent targeted interventions.
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spelling doaj.art-3d0364a3010a432aa1f08983b2f817282022-12-21T18:49:56ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-97161654-98802018-11-0111010.1080/16549716.2018.14707381470738Sociodemographic and behavioural factors associated with body mass index among men and women in Nairobi slums: AWI-Gen ProjectGershim Asiki0Shukri F. Mohamed1David Wambui2Caroline Wainana3Stella Muthuri4Michèle Ramsay5Catherine Kyobutungi6African Population and Health Research CenterAfrican Population and Health Research CenterAfrican Population and Health Research CenterAfrican Population and Health Research CenterAfrican Population and Health Research CenterUniversity of the WitwatersrandAfrican Population and Health Research CenterBackground: Body mass index (BMI) is rising globally with a faster increase in urban areas in low- and middle-income countries. It is critical to identify modifiable risk factors for BMI to prevent the occurrence of associated health consequences. Objective: To investigate socio-demographic, behavioural and biological factors associated with BMI in Nairobi slums. Methods: In 2014-2015, a cross sectional study of men and women aged 40–60 years in Nairobi slums (Korogocho and Viwandani) was conducted. Data were collected on socio-demographic, behavioural and biological characteristics. Mean BMI, overweight and obesity were computed. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis was conducted separately for men and women to explore factors associated with BMI. Results: In total, 1942 study participants (54.4%, women) with a mean age (SD) of 48.3 (5.3) years and 48.8(5.6) years for women and men respectively were recruited. Mean BMI was higher among women than men (27.6 versus 22.8; p < 0.001). More women were overweight (30.9% versus 19.6%; p < 0.001) and obese (32.1% versus 5.1%; p < 0.001) than men. Among men, BMI was independently associated with wealth index, bread consumption and self-reported diabetes and was negatively associated with current tobacco smoking, HIV and TB infections. Among women, BMI was independently associated with wealth, current non-problematic drinking, and sedentary time, but was lower among other ethnicities compared to Kikuyu, among current smokers, women with longer sleep, and those with HIV infection and tuberculosis. Wealth index contributed the most variance in BMI among women and men (10.4%, 7.5%, respectively), but behavioural factors (7.4%) among men and biological factors (6.5%) among women accounted for most of the additional BMI variance. Conclusions: Adults aged 40–60 years in the urban slums of Nairobi have a high BMI associated with wealth. Bread consumption by men and sedentary life among women are the main risky behaviours that need urgent targeted interventions.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2018.1470738Body Mass Index (BMI)urban slumsNairobiKenyaassociated factors
spellingShingle Gershim Asiki
Shukri F. Mohamed
David Wambui
Caroline Wainana
Stella Muthuri
Michèle Ramsay
Catherine Kyobutungi
Sociodemographic and behavioural factors associated with body mass index among men and women in Nairobi slums: AWI-Gen Project
Global Health Action
Body Mass Index (BMI)
urban slums
Nairobi
Kenya
associated factors
title Sociodemographic and behavioural factors associated with body mass index among men and women in Nairobi slums: AWI-Gen Project
title_full Sociodemographic and behavioural factors associated with body mass index among men and women in Nairobi slums: AWI-Gen Project
title_fullStr Sociodemographic and behavioural factors associated with body mass index among men and women in Nairobi slums: AWI-Gen Project
title_full_unstemmed Sociodemographic and behavioural factors associated with body mass index among men and women in Nairobi slums: AWI-Gen Project
title_short Sociodemographic and behavioural factors associated with body mass index among men and women in Nairobi slums: AWI-Gen Project
title_sort sociodemographic and behavioural factors associated with body mass index among men and women in nairobi slums awi gen project
topic Body Mass Index (BMI)
urban slums
Nairobi
Kenya
associated factors
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2018.1470738
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