Childhood overweight and obesity among Kenyan pre-school children: association with maternal and early child nutritional factors

Abstract

Objective: To report on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among preschool children in Kenya and examine the associations between childhood overweight and selected maternal and child-related factors. Design: Demographic Health Survey data, multistage stratified cluster sampling methodology. Setting: Rural and urban areas of Kenya. Subjects: A total of 1495 children between the ages of 3 and 5 years in Kenya. Results: Over 30 % of the children were stunted, approximately 16 % were underweight, 4 % were wasted, approximately 18 % were overweight and 4 % were obese; 8 % were both overweight/obese and stunted. Maternal overweight and obesity, higher levels of maternal education, being a large or very large child at birth, and being stunted were each associated with higher odds of overweight and obesity among Kenyan children. Older children and large household size were each associated with lower odds of overweight and obesity among Kenyan children. Conclusions: The analysis demonstrates the presence of under-and overnutrition among Kenyan pre-school children and the importance of focusing on expanding efforts to prevent and treat malnutrition within this population. It also identifies some of the modifiable factors that can be targeted in these efforts.

Patterns of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity during health transition in Vanuatu

“…For example, a comparison of children born small for gestational age compared with children having average birth weights indicated that although the two groups had similar body composition at birth and similar BMI by age 3 or 4 years, children who were small at birth had higher percentage body fat and more abdominal fat than those with average birth weight (51) . A similar study indicated that infants who were stunted had a 70% increase in odds of being overweight at age 3–5 years (54) . This is particularly problematic in transitional societies where undernutrition and continued infectious disease burdens contribute to lower weight and shorter length at birth.…”

Global prevalence and trends of overweight and obesity among preschool children

“…Families of affected infants should be counseled on appropriate feeding practices and other preventive interventions (21). Intrauterine, infant, and preschool periods are considered possible critical periods for programming long-term regulation of energy balance (22)(23)(24). Waiting for school programs to address this problem is probably too late.…”

Urban-rural differentials in child undernutrition in Ethiopia

“…A number of studies have examined the determinants of child nutritional status in Subsaharan Africa (Gewa, 2009;Zivin et al, 2009;Alderman, 2007 Alderman (2007) and Ssewanyana (2003). To support program setting at the local and national levels, this study was conducted to identify urban-rural differences in the magnitude and determinants of under five child undernutrition in Ethiopia by using the 2011 EDHS data.…”