Prevalence and determinants of overweight and obesity among school children in Morogoro region, Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Being overweight and obese involve health risks as well as possible consequences for individuals’ and communities’ social and economic well-being. It was previously considered an adult health concern, but it is now seen among children. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of overweight and obesity among school children in rural and urban areas of Morogoro region, Tanzania.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 335 parent/caregiver-child pairs, of whom 165 were from Kilosa (rural) and 170 from Morogoro (urban) districts. The main sampling unit was registered primary schools which were stratified according to ownership, whether private or government, and sampled separately. A total of four private and four public schools were sampled, two of each of the categories in each of the locations. Weight and height were measured using standard procedures and Body Mass Index (BMI) was determined. Socio-demographic information was collected using a questionnaire with structured questions. A statistical package for social sciences version 21 was used to analyze data and a regression model was used to explore the determinants of overweight and obesity.

Results: The ages of the studied children ranged from 7 to 12 years, while those of the parents/caregivers ranged from 18 to 72 years. About 19% (n=63) of the school children were overweight or obese, while 3.9% (n=13) were underweight. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was higher among private school students than in public schools 36(24.8%) vs 27(14.2%) and more or less similar prevalence’s were observed among rural (17.6%, n=34) and urban (20.0%, n=29) settings. In a multivariate analysis, eating breakfast before going to school is associated with overweight/obesity (AOR 2.23, 95% CI: 1.06-4.68). Other factors associated with overweight/obesity were school type (AOR 1.19, 95% CI: 1.55-2.60), household daily income (AOR 1.88, 95% CI: 1.68-3.15) (AOR 2.89, 95% CI: 1.76-4.11).

Conclusion: In conclusion, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school children was high, while underweight was very low. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was similar in rural and urban children, indicating a nutritional transition. The potential risk factors associated with being overweight or obese were school type, household daily income, provision of breakfast and being given money to buy something to eat at school. Therefore, nutrition and healthy lifestyle education should be integrated into school programs to reduce the risk of developing diseases associated with being overweight or obese.