ArticleBMJ open2020
The silent epidemic of obesity in The Gambia: evidence from a nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional health examination survey.
Article in BMJ open, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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9 citing papers in PubMed, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- Rural-urban differences in osteoporosis and sarcopenia prevalence among Gambian older adults: a pilot study.Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research · 2026Article
- Factors influencing malnutrition among adolescent girls in The Gambia: a mixed-methods exploratory study.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, multimorbidity, and related risk factors among adult Gambians: a cross-sectional nationwide study.The Lancet. Global health · 2024Article
- Socio-economic and food system drivers of nutrition and health transitions in The Gambia from 1990 to 2017.Global food security · 2023Article
- The prevalence and determinant of overweight and obesity among residents aged 40-69 years in high-risk regions for upper gastrointestinal cancer in southeast China.Scientific reports · 2023Article
- Adherence to EAT-Lancet dietary recommendations for health and sustainability in the Gambia.Environmental research letters : ERL [Web site] · 2022Article
- Changes in Climate Vulnerability and Projected Water Stress of The Gambia's Food Supply Between 1988 and 2018: Trading With Trade-Offs.Frontiers in public health · 2022Article
- Receptor Guanylyl Cyclase C and Cyclic GMP in Health and Disease: Perspectives and Therapeutic Opportunities.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2022Review
- Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and its Components in Kanifing Municipality, The Gambia.Medical archives (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina) · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesNon-communicable diseases account for 70% of global deaths; 80% occur in low-income and middle-income countries. The rapid increase of obesity in sub-Saharan Africa is a concern. We assessed generalised and abdominal obesity and their associated risk factors among adults in The Gambia.
designNationwide cross-sectional health examination survey using the WHO STEPwise survey methods.
settingThe Gambia.
participantsThis study uses secondary analysis of a 2010 nationally representative random sample of adults aged 25-64 years (78% response rate). The target sample size was 5280, and 4111 responded. Analysis was restricted to non-pregnant participants with valid weight and height measurements (n=3533). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome variable was generalised obesity, using WHO body mass index (BMI) thresholds. Analyses used non-response weighting and adjusted for the complex survey design. We conducted multinomial logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with BMI categories. The secondary outcome variable was abdominal obesity, defined as high waist circumference (using the International Diabetes Federation thresholds for Europeans).
resultsTwo-fifths of adults were overweight/obese, with a higher obesity prevalence in women (17%, 95% CI 14.7 to 19.7; men 8%, 95% CI 6.0 to 11.0). 10% of men and 8% of women were underweight. Urban residence (adjusted relative risk ratio 5.8, 95% CI 2.4 to 14.5), higher education (2.3, 1.2 to 4.5), older age, ethnicity, and low fruit and vegetable intake (2.8, 1.1 to 6.8) were strongly associated with obesity among men. Urban residence (4.7, 2.7 to 8.2), higher education (2.6, 1.1 to 6.4), older age and ethnicity were associated with obesity in women.
conclusionThere is a high burden of overweight/obesity in The Gambia. While obesity rates in rural areas were lower than in urban areas, obesity prevalence was higher among rural residents in this study compared with previous findings. Preventive strategies should be directed at raising awareness, discouraging harmful beliefs on weight, and promoting healthy diets and physical activity.
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