Prevalence and correlates of overweight and obesity among under-five children in Egypt
Emmanuel Osei Bonsu1, Isaac Yeboah Addo2
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Insights
Overweight and obesity affect 17% of Egyptian children under five. Risk factors include age, high birth weight, protein-rich foods, and maternal wealth, necessitating targeted interventions for childhood obesity in Egypt.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Egypt faces a significant risk of excess body weight among children.
- Limited research exists on childhood overweight and obesity in Egypt, particularly for those under five.
- This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding pediatric overweight and obesity prevalence and correlates in Egypt.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Egyptian children under five years of age.
- To identify factors associated with overweight and obesity in this demographic.
- To inform public health strategies for managing pediatric overnutrition in Egypt.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2008 and 2014 Egypt Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS).
- Included a large sample of 42,568 children under five years.
- Employed logistic regression analysis to examine correlates of overweight and obesity.
Main Results:
- Approximately 17% of Egyptian children under five were found to be overweight or obese.
- Significant risk factors identified include specific age groups (19-37 months), high birth weight (>4 kg), consumption of large portions of protein foods (eggs, meat), and belonging to the richest maternal wealth quintile.
- These findings highlight key demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with pediatric overweight and obesity.
Conclusions:
- Overweight and obesity are highly prevalent issues among young children in Egypt.
- Effective interventions must consider the interplay of age, birth weight, dietary patterns (protein portion sizes), and maternal socioeconomic status.
- Tailored public health strategies are crucial to address the diverse risk factors contributing to childhood overnutrition in Egypt.
Background:
Evidence suggests that Egypt, a country in North Africa, has a significant number of children at serious risk of excess body weight. Yet, there is a dearth of studies on overweight and obesity among children under 5 years in the country. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of overweight and obesity among under-five children in Egypt.
Methods:
Data were retrieved from the latest (2008 and 2014) Egypt Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS). A total of 42,568 children under 5 years were included. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was described using proportions whereas the factors associated with the prevalence were examined using logistic regression.
Results:
Of the 42,568 children under 5 years, about one in every six (17%) were overweight or obese. Children aged 19-37 months, those with birth weights >4 kg, those given large portions of protein foods (eggs and meat), and those whose mothers were in the rich wealth quintile had significant risks of overweight or obesity.
Conclusion:
Overweight and obesity are highly prevalent among children under 5 years in Egypt. Interventions developed to address these two overnutrition indicators in Egypt need to consider variations in risk factors across age, birth weight, food types and portions, and maternal wealth status.
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