ArticlePloS one2018
Obesity matters but is not perceived: A cross-sectional study on cardiovascular disease risk factors among a population-based probability sample in rural Zambia.
Article in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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14 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 23 citations in OpenAlex.
- Association between food insecurity and key metabolic risk factors for diet-sensitive non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2021Pooled it
- Effects of lifestyle modification counselling on weight and body composition among adults with overweight or obesity on antiretroviral therapy: a randomized controlled trial.Obesity pillars · 2025Article
- Article
- Spatial analysis and associated factors of underweight, overweight and obesity among non-pregnant women of reproductive age in Zambia.African health sciences · 2024Article
- Association of Obesity With Health Literacy and Weight Perception Among Women Merchants in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire: A Cross-Sectional Study.Health literacy research and practice · 2024Article
- Prevalence and determinants of obesity and abdominal obesity among rural workers in Southeastern Brazil.PloS one · 2022Article
- Cognitive insight is associated with perceived body weight in overweight and obese adults.BMC public health · 2021Article
- Double Burden of Malnutrition and Nutrition Transition in Asia: A Case Study of 4 Selected Countries with Different Socioeconomic Development.Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) · 2020Article
- Body size preferences and food choice among mothers and children in Malawi.Maternal & child nutrition · 2020Article
- Article
- Behavioral Weight Loss: A Promising Treatment for Obesity in Adults with HIV.AIDS and behavior · 2020Review
- Nutrition transition and double burden of malnutrition in Africa: A case study of four selected countries with different social economic development.AIMS public health · 2020Article
- Glomerular Collagen Deposition and Lipocalin-2 Expression Are Early Signs of Renal Injury in Prediabetic Obese Rats.International journal of molecular sciences · 2019Article
- Prevalence and factors associated with overweight and obesity among rural and urban women in Burkina Faso.The Pan African medical journal · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSub-Saharan Africa, including Zambia, has experienced an increase in overweight and obesity due to rapid lifestyle changes associated with recent economic growth. We explored the prevalence and correlates of overweight and obesity in rural Zambia. We also investigated the role of self-perception of body weight in weight control given the local socio-cultural context.
methodsIn this cross-sectional study, we recruited 690 residents of the Mumbwa district aged 25-64 years through a multistage, clustered, household random sampling. We administered a questionnaire and collected anthropometric and bio-behavioral data from May to July 2016. Factors associated with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 and underestimation of body weight were assessed using multiple logistic regression.
resultsOf the weighted sample of 689 participants (335 men and 354 women), 185 (26.8%) had BMI ≥25 kg/m2. In multivariate analyses, female gender, age 45-64 years, tertiary education, higher fruit and vegetable intake, high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipid profile, and Hemoglobin A1c ≥5.7% were significantly associated with BMI ≥25 kg/m2. Among participants with BMI ≥25 kg/m2, 14.2% and 58.2% perceived themselves as being underweight and normal weight, respectively. Age 45-64 years was the only factor significantly associated with body weight underestimation. Preference for obesity was reported by 17.5% and 3.6% of respondents with BMI <25 kg/m2 and BMI≥25 kg/m2, respectively; "looks attractive" and "fear of being perceived as HIV-positive" were the main reasons.
conclusionIn rural Zambia, overweight and obesity are prevalent and significantly associated with alterations in blood pressure, blood lipid profile, and glucose metabolism. However, most subjects with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 underestimated their body weight; some preferred obesity, in part due to cultural factors and HIV-related stigma. A health promotion program that addresses such perceptions and body weight underestimation should be urgently introduced in Zambia.
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