dc.description.abstract | Background
Over the two last decades Bangladesh, a low-income country, has experienced a rapid
demographic and epidemiological transition. The population has increased substantially
with rapid urbanization and changing pattern of disease, which at least in part, can be
explained by nutritional changes. However, the nutritional status of the adult population has
not been previously described. Hence, the objective of this study was to estimate the preva-
lence and explore socio-demographic determinants of underweight, overweight and obesity
among the Bangladeshi adult population.
Methods
This study is a secondary data analysis of the national 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and
Health Survey. We determined the nutritional status of adults aged 35 years of age, who
had a measured weight and height, using the Asian body mass index (BMI) cut-offs for
underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m2
), overweight (BMI 23 to <27.5 kg/m2
) and obesity (BMI
27.5 kg/m2
). Logistic regression modeling was used to determine the association between
socio-demographic factors and nutritional status.
Result
Of total sample (n = 5495), 30.4% were underweight, 18.9% were overweight and 4.6%
were obese. Underweight was associated with age, education and wealth. The adjusted
odd ratios for underweight were higher for older people (70 years) compared to younger,
the least educated compared to the most educated and the poorest compared to the wealth-
iest were 2.51 (95%CI: 1.95–3.23, p<0.001), 3.59 (95%CI: 2.30–5.61, p<0.001) and 3.70
(95%CI: 2.76–4.96, p<0.001), respectively. Younger age (35–44 years), being female,
higher education, wealthier and living in urban areas were associated with overweight/obe-
sity with adjusted odds ratios of 1.73 (95%CI: 1.24–2.41, p<0.001), 2.48 (95%CI: 1.87–3.28, p<0.001), 3.98 (95%CI: 2.96–5.33, p<0.001), 7.14 (95%CI: 5.20–9.81, p<0.001) 1.27 (95%
CI: 1.05–1.55, p-0.02), respectively.
Conclusion
Underweight and overweight/obesity are prevalent in Bangladeshi adults. Both conditions
are associated with increased morbidity and mortality and increase the risk of developing
non-communicable diseases. Effective public health intervention approaches are necessary
to address both these conditions. | en_US |