Journal of Obesity
Volume 2021 (2021), Article ID 8846723, 8 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8846723

Research Article

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Overweight and Obesity among High School Adolescents in Bahir Dar City, Northwest, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Mulugebeya Worku,¹ Zemichael Gizaw,² Aysheshim Kassahun Belew,¹ Alemakef Wagnew,³ and Melkamu Tamir Hunegnaw¹

¹Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
²Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
³Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia

Correspondence should be addressed to Melkamu Tamir Hunegnaw; melkamutamir@gmail.com

Received 10 September 2020; Revised 25 February 2021; Accepted 1 March 2021; Published 10 March 2021

Academic Editor: Chris I. Ardern

Copyright © 2021 Mulugebeya Worku et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Background. Overweight and obesity can be defined as excessive and abnormal fat deposition in our bodies. A body mass index for age of Z scores +2 to +3 was classified as overweight, whereas BMI for age >+3 Z-score was considered as obesity. Overweight and obesity in adolescents are a major health problem in low-income countries like Ethiopia. However, there is not well-established data on adolescents’ overweight and obesity. Therefore, this study assessed the prevalence and associated factors of overweight and obesity among high school adolescents in Bahir Dar city, northwest of Ethiopia. Methods. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 30 to November 30/2019 among 551 high school adolescents. Data were collected using a self-administrative questionnaire. Weight and height were measured by trained health professionals. World Health Organization AnthroPlus software was used to analyze anthropometric data into body mass index for age with z-score to ascertained overweight and obesity. Data were entered using Epi Info version 3.5.3 and transferred to SPSS version 22 for further analysis. Frequency and percentage were presented using tables and figures. A bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between the dependent and independent variables. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI and were used to dictate statistical significance for overweight and obesity. Result. In this study, 522 high school adolescents aged 10–19 years were selected using a simple random sampling technique with a response rate of 94.74%. The mean age of the respondents was 17 years with SD ± 1.41. The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was 12.5% (95% CI: 9.6, 15.2). Males (13.3%) were more than females (11.5%), being overweight and obese. Having self-employed mothers (AOR: 4.57; 95% CI: 1.06, 19.78), having government-employed mothers (AOR: 6.49; 95% CI: 1.96, 21.54), and having school feeding habit (AOR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.26, 0.76) were factors associated with overweight/obesity among high school adolescents. Conclusion. The prevalence of overweight/obesity in the current study was high. Adolescents having self-employed mothers, adolescents having government-employed mothers, and students having school feeding habits were significant factors of overweight and obesity. Therefore, more emphasis will be given to adolescents having self- and government-employed mothers and adolescents having school feeding habit.

1. Background

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation, resulting in weakening the health of an individual [1–3]. The epidemic of overweight and obesity reflects the changes in society and behavioral patterns of communities over recent decades. Even if genes are important in determining a person’s susceptibility to weight gain, energy balance is also a factor for overweight and obesity. Societal changes and worldwide nutrition transition are driving the overweight/obesity epidemic [4, 5]. Adolescence is a vulnerable period for the development of obesity and the weight of adolescent tracks strongly into adulthood [6]. Adolescent overweight and obesity are increasing globally, raising the threat of long-term illness in later adulthood [7,8].

Overweight and obesity are a result of an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure with an increase in energy balance being closely associated with the lifestyle adopted and the dietary intake preferences [9]. Adolescents affected by overweight and obesity are predisposed to various morbidities including neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, which in turn also increases the rate of mortality in the adulthood period [10–12]. In addition, adolescents’ overweight and obesity lead to a risk of psychological and social problems related to a negative self-image, low self-esteem, increased depression disorder, inadequate sleep, and reduced adult life expectancy [13–15]. Furthermore, the economic impacts of childhood overweight and obesity increase medical cost, job absenteeism, annual drug usage, emergency room, outpatient cost of $14.1 billion, and inpatient cost of $236.6 million [16, 17].

Adolescents’ overweight and obesity are rising alarmingly and approaching an epidemic in many developed countries and become a double burden for low- and middle-income courtiers [7, 18]. The global prevalence of obesity increased from 4% in 1975 to 18% in 2016, with an estimated 124 million being affected [3]. Reports affirmed that an estimated 43 million children are obese globally; of these, approximately 81% were from developing countries, half of which (18 million) were living in Asian countries [19].

In developing countries overweight and obesity increased from 8.1 to 13.4% in girls over thirty years [20]. In Asians, they increased from 9.8% to 11.7% [21], and about 8.7% to 31.4% developed overweight and obesity in Africa [22, 23]. A cross-sectional data from the Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) conducted in seven African countries showed that being overweight ranged from 8.7% (Ghana) to 31.4% (Egypt). Obesity rates ranged from 0.6% (Benin) to 9.3% (Egypt) [23]. In Ethiopia, the magnitude of overweight and obesity varies from place to place. For example, in a study done in Wolaita Sodo town 5.0% [24], Jimma town, Ethiopia 13.3% [25], and Addis Ababa, 8.2% [26] school adolescents were overweight and obese. This prevalence also varied in residences. The above literature showed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased from time to time.

Previous reports revealed that the socioeconomic status of the family, urbanization, sex, physical activity [27], dietary habits, meal frequency, breakfast skipping, and physical activities are considered important risk factors [28, 29]. Additional factors, which have a relative contribution are genetic variation, epigenetic and intrauterine exposures, transportation, could also be contributing factors [30, 31]. Despite efforts from the government of Ethiopia to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity [32], their prevalence in children and youth remains high [25]. In addition, there was a great variation and inconsistency in the prevalence and factors among the studies [33]. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of obesity and overweight among high school adolescents in Bahir Dar city.

2. Methods

2.1. Study Setting and Period

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 30, 2018, to November 30, 2018, among high school adolescents in Bahir Dar city. Bahir Dar is the capital city of the Amhara National Regional State located 563 km away from Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. The city has one special zone and five subcities and private and eleven public secondary schools. In Bahir Dar city, there are 16,782 high school students: 14,483 are public and 2293 are private students [34].

2.2. Source and Study Population

All adolescent students aged 10–19 in Bahir Dar city enrolled from grades 9 to 12 for 2018/2019 academic years were the source populations. Students enrolling in the selected schools during the data collection period were considered the study population.

2.3. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

All students from grades 9 to 12 with the age ranges of 10–19 years attending during the data collection period were included in the study and severely ill students during the data collection period were excluded from the study.

2.4. Sample Size Determination

The sample size was calculated using a single proportion formula by considering the following assumptions: previous prevalence of overweight and obesity among high school students 16.7% [35], 95% confidence level, 4 of marginal error, and 1.5 of the design effect. Finally, a sample size of 551 was obtained by considering a 10% nonresponse rate.

2.5. Sampling Technique

Among the 18 secondary schools (16,782 total number of students) in Bahir Dar city, five were selected using the simple random sampling technique to achieve the primary sampling units. The total sample size was allocated to the five schools (8,263 students) proportionally, based on the number of students in each school. Of these, 551 students were selected by using a simple random sampling technique.

2.6. Data Collection Tool and Procedure

Sociodemographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire developed from similar literature [35, 36]. The questionnaire was initially prepared in English, translated into Amharic, the local language, and retranslated to English to maintain consistency. One-day training was given for 5 data collectors and 2 supervisors to create awareness of data collection, procedures, and the technique of how to collect data. The structured questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, learning hours, school feeding habits, use of soft drinks, feeding frequency in a day, a history of family obesity and chronic disease, transportation type, and physical exercise. A pretest was done among 5% of the total sample size similar to the study setting to ensure questioner consistency and quality. Daily data follow-up and checkup were done through the principal investigator and supervisors. In Bahir Dar city, 18 secondary schools were found; five were selected using the simple random sampling technique to achieve the primary sampling units. The calculated samples of students were recruited from selected schools based on the proportional number of their students.

2.7. Variables Measurement

Height was measured to the nearest 0.1 cm using a height measuring stadiometer in a standing position with a sliding headpiece. The subject stood up on the basal part of the device with feet together and shoulder, buttock, calf, and heels touching the vertical stand of the stadiometer. Or the study participant stands with their eyes in the Frankfurt horizontal plane. Weight was measured to the nearest 0.1 kg using beam balance. Body mass index for age (BAZ) was calculated using WHO AnthroPlus software and BMI for the age of Z scores +2 to +3 was classified as overweight, whereas BMI for age ≥3 Z score was considered as obese [30, 37].

School feeding habit is the provision of meals to students in class or take-home ration to families with children who attend school regularly [38].

The household wealth index was determined using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) by considering household assets. First, variables coded between 0 and 1 were entered and analyzed using PCA; then, variables with commonality values of greater than 0.5 were used to produce factor scores. Finally, the factor scores were summed and ranked as poor, medium, and rich.

Anthropometric data were collected by recording the age, weight, and height of the participants according to WHO guidelines. The instruments were checked for accuracy before data collection started. The participants were measured with an adjusted weight and height scale by trained data collectors. Weight and height were adjusted to the nearest 0.1 g and 0.1 cm, respectively. BMI for age was calculated using AnthroPlus software and adolescents having BAZ above +1 standard deviation (SD) were considered as overweight and obese [30, 37].

2.8. Data Processing and Analysis

Clean coded data were entered into Epi Info version 3.5.3 software and exported to SPSS version 22 for further analysis. BMZ score was computed by using WHO AnthroPlus software. Data were analyzed using the bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model. The PCA was used to compute wealth index individuals. Descriptive statistical analysis was described by sentences, graphs, tables, frequencies, percentages, and mean and standard deviation. A bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between the dependent variable and the independent variables.

Factors associated with overweight on bivariable were identified, and the variables with a value of 0.2 and less were entered into the multivariable analysis for controlling potential confounders. The odds ratio was used to measure the strength of association and reported with 95% confidence intervals; value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant for overweight and obesity.

3. Results

3.1. Sociodemographic Characteristics

A total of 522 participants participated with a response rate of 94.74%. Most participants 82.6% (431) were public school students and more than half, 275 (52.7%), were males. The mean age of the respondents was 17 ± 1.4 years. Regarding religions, 425 (81.4%) were Orthodox Christian and 483 (92.5%) were living in urban residence. More than two-thirds of study participants could not use any device for transportation and one-third, 161 (31.6%), of adolescents were from the lowest wealth status family (Table 1).

Table 1: Sociodemographic characteristics of school adolescents and their parents at Bahir Dar city high school (n = 522).

Characteristics
Frequency
Percentage

Sex

Male
270
51.7

Female
252
48.3

Age

Early
4
0.8

Middle
312
59.8

Late
206
39.5

Residence of family

Urban
483
92.5

Rural
39
7.5

Religion

Orthodox
425
81.4

Muslim
89
17.0

Protestant
8
1.5

Grade level

9–10
262
50.2

11–12
260
49.8

Father educational

Unable to read and write
75
14.4

Able to read and write
7
1.3

Primary
152
29.1

Secondary
93
17.8

Higher education
195
37.4

Maternal educational

Unable to read and write
94
18.0

Able to read and write
10
1.9

Primary
147
28.2

Secondary
122
23.4

Higher education
149
28.5

Father occupation

Farmer
68
13.0

Daily labour
37
7.1

Merchant
168
32.2

Self-employee
66
12.6

Government employee
183
35.1

Maternal occupation

Farmer
266
51.0

Daily labour
25
4.8

Merchant
91
17.4

Self-employee
43
8.2

Government employee
97
18.6

Wealth status

Poor
165
31.6

Medium
177
33.9

Rich
180
34.5

3.2. Dietary, Lifestyle, and Parent History-Related Characteristics

Regarding the dietary habits of the study participants, more than one-fourth, 146 (28.0%), of participants were eating three times or less per day; more than, two-thirds, 360 (69.0%), of adolescents did not have school feeding habits; and the majority 455 (87.2%) of the participants took beverages. Only, 54 (10.3%) of the respondents had a family history of chronic diseases and 51 (9.8%) had a family history of obesity. Nearly, half of the respondents, 257 (49.2%), were engaged in physical exercise (Table 2).

Table 2: Dietary, lifestyle, and parent history-related characteristics of high school adolescents at Bahir Dar city, northwest Ethiopia (n = 522).

Characteristics
Frequency
Percentage

Feeding frequency

≤3 times
146
28.0

>3 times
376
72.0

School feeding habit

Yes
162
31.0

No
360
69.0

Beverage drinking

Yes
455
87.2

No
67
12.8

Physical exercise

Yes
257
49.2

No
265
50.8

Transportation type

Bicycle
71
13.6

Motor cycle
15
2.9

Automobile
91
17.4

Foot
345
66.1

Family chronic disease history

Yes
54
10.3

No
468
89.7

History of family obesity

Yes
51
9.8

No
471
90.2

3.3. Prevalence and Associated Factors of Overweight and Obesity

The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be 12.5% (95% CI: 9.6, 15.2%). Of this, 7.7% and 10.7% were overweight and obese, respectively. Adolescents, who were living in rich families (15.6%), developed overweight and obesity, and the most prevalence (17.6%) of overweight and obesity was observed within the age range of 10–14 years old.

Variables having values of 0.20 or less in the bivariate logistic regression were fitted in the multivariate logistic regression to get the adjusted effect of each covariate. After adjusting for independent variables, maternal occupation and student’s school feeding habits were significantly associated with overweight and obesity at a 95% confidence level and a value of <0.05.

High school adolescents with self-employed mothers were about 4.6 times more likely to be overweight and obese (AOR: 4.57; 95% CI: 1.06, 19.78) compared to those having housewife mothers. In addition, adolescents having government-employed mothers were also almost 6.5 times more likely to be overweight and obese (AOR: 6.49; 95% CI: 1.96, 21.54). Those adolescents having school feeding habits reduced overweight and obesity by 54% (AOR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.26, 0.76) (Table 3).

Table 3: Factors associated with overweight and obesity among high school adolescents at Bahir Dar city, northwest Ethiopia.

Characteristics
Overweight/obesity
Crude odds ratio (95% CI)
Adjusted odds ratio (95% CI)

Yes
No

Age in years

10–14
4 (23.5%)
13 (76.5%)
0.45 (0.14, 1.41)
0.37 (0.11, 1.29)

15–19
61 (12.1%)
444 (87.9%)
1
1

Religion

Orthodox
46 (10.8%)
379 (89.2%)
1
1

Muslim
17 (19.1%)
72 (80.9%)
0.51 (0.28, 0.95)
0.58 (0.31, 1.10)

Protestant
2 (25.%)
6 (75.0%)
0.36 (0.07, 1.86)
0.33 (0.06, 1.79)

Transportation type

Bicycle
4 (5.6%)
67 (94.4%)
2.26 (0.78, 6.52)
1.88 (0.64, 5.52)

Motor cycle
5 (33.3%)
10 (66.7%)
0.27 (0.09, 0.83)
0.45 (0.13, 1.51)

Automobile
15 (16.5%)
76 (83.5%)
0.68 (0.36, 1.29)
0.84 (0.41, 1.72)

Foot
41 (11.9%)
304 (88.1%)
1
1

School type

Government
47 (10.9%)
384 (89.1%)
1
1

Private
18 (19.8%)
73 (80.2%)
0.49 (0.27, 0.90)
0.78 (0.33, 1.81)

Learning hour

≤7 hours/day
53 (11.4%)
411 (88.6%)
1
1

>7 hours/day
12 (20.7%)
46 (79.3%)
0.49 (0.25, 0.99)
0.68 (0.29, 1.59)

Father occupation

Farmer
10 (14.7%)
58 (85.3%)
1
1

Daily labour
9 (24.3%)
28 (75.7%)
0.54 (0.19, 1.47)
0.55 (0.17, 1.78)

Merchant
19 (11.3%)
149 (88.7%)
1.35 (0.59, 3.08)
1.99 (0.76, 5.22)

Self-employee
11 (16.7%)
55 (80.3%)
0.86 (0.34, 2.19)
1.12 (0.40, 3.13)

Government employee
16 (8.7%)
167 (91.3%)
1.80 (0.77, 4.19)
1.16 (0.43, 2.91)

Mother occupation

Housewife
44 (16.5%)
222 (83.5%)
1
1

Daily labour
3 (12.0%)
22 (88.0%)
1.45 (0.42, 5.07)
1.51 (0.43, 5.33)

Merchant
13 (14.3%)
78 (85.7%)
1.19 (0.61, 2.33)
1.25 (0.64, 2.47)

Self-employee
2 (4.7%)
41 (95.3%)
4.06 (0.95, 17.42)
4.57 (1.06, 19.78)

Government employee
3 (3.1%)
94 (96.9%)
6.21 (1.88, 20.49)
6.49 (1.96, 21.54)

Wealth status

Poor
21 (12.7%)
144 (87.3%)
1
1

Medium
15 (8.5%)
162 (91.5%)
1.57 (0.78, 3.17)
1.5 (0.72, 3.14)

Rich
29 (16.1%)
151 (83.9%)
0.76 (0.41, 1.39)
0.89 (0.45, 1.81)

School feeding habit

Yes
30 (18.5%)
132 (81.5%)
0.47 (0.28, 0.80)
0.44 (0.26, 0.76)

No
35 (9.7%)
325 (90.3%)
1
1

Significant at value of ≤0.05.

4. Discussion

Nutrition in the early stage has a role in social skills, physical appearance, emotional stability, and quality of life of adolescents. The economic growth, in terms of both lost productivity and increased burden of disease, is affected by malnutrition [39]. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of overweight/obesity among school adolescents. The current study shows males were more likely than females to be overweight or obese (67% vs. 52%). The possible reason might be cultural practice can be the possible cause of overweight and obesity among male adolescents because males are free to purchase more junk food from mobile carts of street vendors’ junky foods. In the contrast, female adolescents are more selective for food choice maintaining star-like body image as compared with males adolescents.

The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents was 12.5%. This finding is supported by the studies in Jimma town, 13.3% [25], and Bahir Dar city, 11.9% [30]. This could be because both the previous studies and our study are done in a similar study setting; socioeconomic, cultural, dietary habit; and lifestyle-related characteristics of the study participants.

The current finding was lower than the research findings in Ghana, 16.4% [40], and China, 20.0% [41]. The reason for the variability may be attributed to different factors including the sociodemographic and economic differences (36). However, our finding is higher than the studies done in Nigeria, 7% [42], and Gondar town, 6.0% [43]. The disparity might be due to sociodemographic and economic variations and might be related to urbanization; thus, adolescents living in urban areas might have more overweight and obesity rates due to transportation modalities and cultural differences in dietary intake.

High school adolescents having self-employed and government-employed mothers were more likely to be overweight and obese compared to adolescents having housewife mothers. This finding is in line with a study done in the United States [44]. The possible reason might be that self-employed and government-employed mothers had probably better economic and educational status and a strong association with overweight and obesity. For the participants having better economic and educational status, getting access to affordable healthy foods might be increased. However, another study showed that economic status and overweight/obesity were inversely associated among adolescents and this magnitude increased with age and differed with gender [45]. Such an inverse association has been speculated due to behavioral factors associated with socioeconomic status. In addition to this, government and self-employed participants might be more educated and when parents are more educated, the awareness of their children’s weight status is increased and they practice a healthier lifestyle. Alternatively, the educational level may represent a proxy for family wealth, making it easier for those families to take healthier turns [46].

Adolescents having school feeding habits reduced overweight and obesity. This finding is similar to a study done in French primary-school children [47]. This might be due to the fact that the school feeding program has reducing short-term hunger and enables children to receive a diversified diet based on the school feeding schedule. In addition, it has the role of preventing adolescents’ purchasing unhealthy diet meal away from the home. Moreover, based on the meal of the school feeding habits, the energy intake and expenditure might be proportional to prevent over- and undernutrition in adolescents. Furthermore, the school environment has its own role in reducing unhealthy weight gain; it may be due to the fact that school has sport/physical exercise program of how to maintain health through playing football, tennis, basketball, and other types of exercise to reduce extra storage of energy in the body causing overweight and obesity. School might have media to deliver simple and clear nutrition information that will change unhealthy eating behaviors which can contribute to better nutritional outcomes.

This association between the risk of becoming overweight and obesity and eating at school has not previously been reported, although several studies confirm the relevance of the school as a means of influencing children’s eating habits. However, a study done in South African showed that dietary habits and eating practices within the school were not found to be significantly associated with the likelihood of being overweight and obese among early and mid-adolescents [48].

4.1. Limitations of the Study

The limitation of this study is that it could not consider genetic influences, parental body mass index, and the health condition of participants. Another limitation might be recall bias that influences results as the participants could forget what they consumed and their level of physical activity. Finally, as dietary intake and physical activity were self-reported data, over- or underreporting may be a significant concern for this study.

5. Conclusion

The current study showed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school adolescents is a high public health problem. Overweight/obesity is significantly associated with maternal occupation school feeding habit. Therefore, more emphasis should be given to adolescents having mothers who are working on self- and government-employed students and students having school feeding habits.

Abbreviations

AOR: | Adjusted odds ratio
BDAC: | Bahir Dar administration city
BMI: | Body mass index
BDRAC: | Bahir Dar academy
CDC: | Center of disease control
CI: | Confidence interval
CVD: | Cardiovascular disease
DALY: | Disability adjusted life year
DC: | Data collector
DDS: | Dietary diversity score
DM: | Diabetes mellitus
ECC: | Ethical clearance committee
EDHS: | Ethiopian demographic health survey
FMOH: | Federal ministry of health
KG: | Kilogram
MAM: | Moderate acute malnutrition
MUAC: | Midupper arm circumference
SAM: | Severe acute malnutrition
WHO: | World Health Organization.

Data Availability

All the data are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Ethical Approval

Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of Gondar. This letter was given to the Bahir Dar Administration city Education office head and those of selected school head office.

Consent

Assent was obtained from high school adolescents, and written informed consent was obtained from parents of all the study participants after sending the information sheet. Participants and their families were informed about the purpose of this study and the benefits/risks. Participants’ right was assured as the right to give, interrupt, or refuse response throughout the data collection procedure and their confidentiality was kept secure.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Authors’ Contributions

MW has designed the study and was involved in data collection, supervision, and data processing. ZG, AKB, AW, and MTH have cleaned, analyzed, and interpreted the data as well as drafting the manuscript. All the authors have critically reviewed the manuscript and read and approved the final version.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the University of Gondar for approving ethical clearance. They also thank data collectors, supervisors, and study participants.

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