Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, SE-901-85, Umeå, Sweden.
BMC Public Health. 2020 Jan 28;20(1):103. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-8215-x.
Overweight and obesity are well-recognized risk factors for various non-communicable diseases. Evidence shows an increasing burden of overweight and obesity in low and middle-income countries, especially in women. Little is known about the risk factors in Zimbabwe. The aim of this study was to determine the socioeconomic risk factors for overweight and obesity in non-pregnant adult Zimbabwean women.
A cross-sectional study was conducted using the 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey (n = 8904) data on the adult female population aged 15 to 49. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated by dividing the body weight by height squared. The socio-economic variables studied were age, marital status, residence, province, religion, education, household wealth index, household size, access to mass media and the use of contraception. Prevalence of overweight (BMI ≥ 25-29.9 kg/m) and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m) were determined. Simple and multivariable logistic regressions were then used to ascertain any relationships.
The weighted prevalence of overweight and obesity in adult females was 34.2 and 12.3% respectively. The odds for being overweight and obese were significantly higher with increasing age (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR 2.76, 95% CI:2.45-3.11 for overweight and AOR 3.24, 95% CI:2.69-3.90 for obesity) with marriage (AOR 1.58, 95% CI:1.38-1.79 for overweight and AOR 1.54, 95% CI:1.27-1.87 for obesity), high wealth status (AOR 4.01, 95% CI:2.93-5.50 for overweight and AOR 6.97, 95% CI:4.08-11.9 for obesity), and the use of hormonal contraception (AOR 1.24, 95% CI:1.07-1.41 for overweight and AOR 1.35, 95% CI:1.10-1.64 for obesity). Additionally, having higher education increased the odds of being obese (AOR 1.44, 95% CI:1.07-1.96) while being Christian increased the odds for being overweight (AOR 1.13, 95% CI:1.00-1.28).
The prevalence of overweight and obesity among women in Zimbabwe was high. The key social factors associated were older age, being married, being wealthy and the use of hormonal contraception. Having a higher education and being Christian also increased the risk of being obese and overweight respectively. The design of multi-faceted overweight and obesity reduction programs for women that focus on increasing physical activity and strengthening of social support systems are necessary to combat this epidemic.
超重和肥胖是各种非传染性疾病公认的危险因素。有证据表明，低中等收入国家的超重和肥胖负担日益加重，尤其是在女性中。关于津巴布韦的风险因素知之甚少。本研究旨在确定津巴布韦成年非孕妇女性超重和肥胖的社会经济风险因素。
本研究使用了 2015 年津巴布韦人口与健康调查（n=8904）中 15 至 49 岁成年女性人口的数据进行了一项横断面研究。体重指数（BMI）通过体重除以身高的平方计算得出。研究的社会经济变量包括年龄、婚姻状况、居住地点、省份、宗教、教育、家庭财富指数、家庭规模、接触大众媒体和使用避孕措施。确定超重（BMI≥25-29.9kg/m）和肥胖（BMI≥30kg/m）的患病率。然后使用简单和多变量逻辑回归来确定任何关系。
成年女性超重和肥胖的加权患病率分别为 34.2%和 12.3%。超重和肥胖的几率随着年龄的增长而显著增加（超重的调整后优势比（AOR）为 2.76，95%CI：2.45-3.11；肥胖的 AOR 为 3.24，95%CI：2.69-3.90），婚姻状况（超重的 AOR 为 1.58，95%CI：1.38-1.79；肥胖的 AOR 为 1.54，95%CI：1.27-1.87），高财富状况（超重的 AOR 为 4.01，95%CI：2.93-5.50；肥胖的 AOR 为 6.97，95%CI：4.08-11.9），以及使用激素避孕（超重的 AOR 为 1.24，95%CI：1.07-1.41；肥胖的 AOR 为 1.35，95%CI：1.10-1.64）。此外，较高的教育程度增加了肥胖的几率（AOR 1.44，95%CI：1.07-1.96），而基督教信仰则增加了超重的几率（AOR 1.13，95%CI：1.00-1.28）。
津巴布韦女性超重和肥胖的患病率很高。与超重和肥胖相关的主要社会因素是年龄较大、已婚、富有和使用激素避孕。较高的教育程度和基督教信仰也分别增加了肥胖和超重的风险。需要制定针对女性的多方面超重和肥胖减轻计划，重点是增加身体活动和加强社会支持系统，以应对这一流行。
