Risk factors for overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

Background Overweight and obesity have increased considerably in low- and middle-income countries over the past few decades, particularly among women of reproductive age. This study assessed the role of physical activity, nutrient intake and risk factors for overweight and obesity among women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 1004 women aged 15–49 years in the Dar es Salaam Urban Cohort Study (DUCS) from September 2018 to January 2019. Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Physical activity was assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) using metabolic equivalent tasks (MET). Modified poison regression models were used to evaluate associations between physical activity and nutrient intake with overweight/obesity in women, controlling for energy and other factors. Results The mean (±SD) age of study women was 30.2 (±8.1) years. Prevalence of overweight and obesity was high (50.4%), and underweight was 8.6%. The risk of overweight/obesity was higher among older women (35–49 vs 15–24 years: PR 1.59; 95% CI: 1.30–1.95); women of higher wealth status (PR 1.24; 95% CI: 1.07–1.43); and informally employed and married women. Attaining moderate to high physical activity (≥600 MET) was inversely associated with overweight/obesity (PR 0.79; 95% CI: 0.63–0.99). Dietary sugar intake (PR 1.27; 95% CI: 1.03–1.58) was associated with increased risk, and fish and poultry consumption (PR 0.78; 95% CI: 0.61–0.99) with lower risk of overweight/obesity. Conclusion Lifestyle (low physical activity and high sugar intake), age, wealth status, informal employment and marital status were associated with increased risk of overweight/obesity, while consumption of fish and poultry protein was associated with lower risk. The study findings underscore the need to design feasible and high-impact interventions to address physical activity and healthy diets among women in Tanzania.

Overweight and Its Associated Factors among Women of Reproductive Age in Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia, 2021: Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

“…This study indicated that discretionary calories per week are associated with overweight among 20–49 years age of women. This finding is similar to other findings from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania [ 35 ].…”

“…Women having higher monthly incomes were 3.916 times more likely to have overweight as compared to women who have lower monthly incomes. This finding is similar to other studies in different parts of Ethiopia ([ 28 ]) [ 34 ]; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania ([ 35 ]); Zimbabwe [ 31 ]; and Kenya [ 32 ]. This might be due to their capacity to purchase more energy-dense foods, as witnessed by studies in both developed and developing countries that show high-income households purchasing foods from supermarkets.…”

Nutritional Status and its Associations with Eating Behavior and Diet Quality among Adult: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The lowest percentage of the score on the overall balance component, including ratio PUFA to SFA and MUFA to SFA, was 8% and ratio macronutrient. The diet quality measurement based on the DASH score reported no significant association between dietary quality and obesity indicators [40]. Similar results had been reported that after adjusting for age, sex, energy intake, physical activity, and smoking status, multivariate analysis of covariance did not show any significant results regarding diet quality indices' in Tehran [42].…”

“…In the study, overweight and obesity, central obesity, are more prevalent among women than male participants. In Tanzania, the risk of overweight/obesity was higher among older women (PR 1.59; 95% CI: 1.30-1.95), [40]. A high prevalence of maternal obesity is reported in a systematic review and meta-analysis across Africa, 6.5−50.7% [41].…”

Maternal overweight and obesity and its associated factors and outcomes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected and HIV‐uninfected black South African pregnant women

“…26 Similarly other African studies have identified that the risk for overweight/obesity was higher among older women. [27][28][29][30] The mechanisms responsible for this age-associated risk with gestational weight gain may be linked to metabolic dysfunction and alterations in the deposition of adipose tissue. 31 Gestational age in this study was also positively associated with overweight and obesity in both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected pregnant black South African women.…”