SynthesisBMC pediatrics2022
Prevalence and determinants of overweight/obesity among under-five children in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis.
Synthesis in BMC pediatrics, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed.
- Pooled prevalence and associated factors of overweight/obesity among under-five children in 46 low- and middle-income countries: A cross-sectional analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys data (2015-2024).PLOS global public health · 2026Article
- Article
- PROTOCOL: Effectiveness of Interventions for the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity in Children and Adolescents From Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Campbell systematic reviews · 2025Article
- Socio-economic and rural-urban disparities in the double burden of childhood malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa.Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 2025Article
- Factors associated with inequalities in malnutrition among children in Ghana using the 2022 GDHS and WHO HEAT framework.BMC public health · 2025Observational
- Current Data on the Role of Amino Acids in the Management of Obesity in Children and Adolescents.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Acute Malnutrition in Under-Five Children in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Risk Factors and Implications for Dietary Quality.Nutrients · 2025Article
- Article
- Unhealthy food consumption and its determinants among children aged 6 to 23 months in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis of the demographic and health survey.BMC pediatrics · 2024Article
- Predictors of Overweight/Obesity Among Preschool Children in Arba Minch City, Southern Ethiopia: Does Consumption of Sweet Food Predispose to Overweight/Obesity?International journal of public health · 2024Article
- Covariate dependent Markov chains constructed with gradient boost modeling can effectively generate long-term predictions of obesity trends.BMC research notes · 2023Article
- Concurrent stunting and overweight or obesity among under-five children in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2023Article
- The Relationship between Childcare-Giving Arrangements and Children's Malnutrition Status in South Africa.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- Relationships between physical activity, fundamental motor skills, and body mass index in preschool children.Frontiers in public health · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionChildhood obesity has become a major public health problem for both developed and developing nations. It is uncommon to find under-nutrition in many low and middle-income countries; as well, obesity is a double burden in these settings. This study aimed to investigate the pooled prevalence of overweight /obesity among under-five (under-5) children in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
methodsData were accessed from the recent nationally representative demographic and health survey datasets from 33 SSA Countries. A total of 192,132 under-five children were recruited for this study. The pooled prevalence of overweight /obesity among under-5 was done using random-effects meta-analysis command. Multivariable multi-level mixed-effects logistic regression analysis was used to identify determinants for the prevalence of under-5 overweight and/or obesity. A P-value less than 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.
resultsThe pooled prevalence of overweight /obesity among under-5 was 5.10% (9% CI: 4.45 - 5.76) in SSA. South Africa region (8.80%, 95% CI: 4.18 - 13.42) had a higher prevalence of under-5 overweight and/or obesity followed by the East Africa region. Male under-5 children (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.09, 95 confidence interval (CI): 1.02 - 1.25), Larger birth weight under-5 children (AOR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.26 - 1.54), under-5 children aged older two to three years (AOR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.76 - 0.94), under-5 children born from educated mothers (secondary and above) (AOR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.25), and under-5 children living in the West Africa (AOR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.56 - 0.81) and South Africa (AOR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.09 - 3.21) were significant determinants for under-5 overweight and/or obesity.
conclusionChildhood obesity is becoming a great challenge and double burden in developing nations. In SSA Africa 1 in 20 under 5 children were overweight and/or obese. Male under-5 children, older aged, under-5 children born from educated mothers, and under-5 children living in the South Africa region were at higher risk for developing overweight and/or obesity. Thus, SSA countries should implement early to pause these consequences preventing the double burden of undernutrition.
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