Trends in Prevalence and Determinants of Overweight and Obesity Among Women of Reproductive Age in Zimbabwe, 2005–2015

Fadzai Mukora-Mutseyekwa, Africa University Clinical Research Centre (AUCRC)
Hajo Zeeb, Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS
Lydia Nengomasha, Africa University
Nicholas Adjei , University of Bremen

This study investigated the trends in prevalence and risk factors of overweight and obesity among Zimbabwean women of reproductive age from 2005 to 2015 using data from the 2005/2006, 2010/2011 and 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS). Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between socioeconomic status, behavioral risk factors and obesity and overweight (body mass index [BMI] = 25.0 kg/m2). We further estimated the prevalence of overweight and obesity over the period covered by the surveys. The result revealed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased substantially from 25.0% in 2005 to 36.6% in 2015. Some of the risk factors for overweight and obesity were alcohol use and high economic status. Smoking was not associated with overweight and obesity. The findings indicate that women of reproductive age are at high – and increasing - risk of excess weight.

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 Presented in Session 11. Health & Mortality 2