Prevalence and time trends in obesity among adult West African populations

TY - JOUR

T1 - Prevalence and time trends in obesity among adult West African populations

T2 - a meta-analysis

A1 - Abubakari,A. R.

A1 - Lauder,W.

A1 - Agyemang,C.

A1 - Jones,M.

A1 - Kirk,A.

A1 - Bhopal,R. S.

AU - Abubakari,A. R.

AU - Lauder,W.

AU - Agyemang,C.

AU - Jones,M.

AU - Kirk,A.

AU - Bhopal,R. S.

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - <p>The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of and trends in obesity in adult West African populations.</p><p>Between February and March 2007, a comprehensive literature search was conducted using four electronic databases. Journal hand searches, citations and bibliographic snowballing of relevant articles were also undertaken. To be included, studies had to be population-based, use well-defined criteria for measuring obesity, present data that allowed calculation of the prevalence of obesity and sample adult participants. Studies retrieved were critically appraised. Meta-analysis was performed using the DerSimonian-Laird random effect model.</p><p>Twenty-eight studies were included. Thirteen studies were conducted in urban settings, 13 in mixed urban/rural and one in rural setting. Mean body mass index ranged from 20.1 to 27.0 kg(2). Prevalence of obesity in West Africa was estimated at 10.0% (95% CI, 6.0-15.0). Women were more likely to be obese than men, odds ratios 3.16 (95% CI, 2.51-3.98) and 4.79 (95% CI, 3.30-6.95) in urban and rural areas respectively. Urban residents were more likely to be obese than rural residents, odds ratio 2.70 (95% CI, 1.76-4.15). Time trend analyses indicated that prevalence of obesity in urban West Africa more than doubled (114%) over 15 years, accounted for almost entirely in women.</p><p>Urban residents and women have particularly high risk of overweight/obesity and obesity is rising fast in women. Policymakers, politicians and health promotion experts must urgently help communities control the spread of obesity in West Africa.</p>

AB - <p>The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of and trends in obesity in adult West African populations.</p><p>Between February and March 2007, a comprehensive literature search was conducted using four electronic databases. Journal hand searches, citations and bibliographic snowballing of relevant articles were also undertaken. To be included, studies had to be population-based, use well-defined criteria for measuring obesity, present data that allowed calculation of the prevalence of obesity and sample adult participants. Studies retrieved were critically appraised. Meta-analysis was performed using the DerSimonian-Laird random effect model.</p><p>Twenty-eight studies were included. Thirteen studies were conducted in urban settings, 13 in mixed urban/rural and one in rural setting. Mean body mass index ranged from 20.1 to 27.0 kg(2). Prevalence of obesity in West Africa was estimated at 10.0% (95% CI, 6.0-15.0). Women were more likely to be obese than men, odds ratios 3.16 (95% CI, 2.51-3.98) and 4.79 (95% CI, 3.30-6.95) in urban and rural areas respectively. Urban residents were more likely to be obese than rural residents, odds ratio 2.70 (95% CI, 1.76-4.15). Time trend analyses indicated that prevalence of obesity in urban West Africa more than doubled (114%) over 15 years, accounted for almost entirely in women.</p><p>Urban residents and women have particularly high risk of overweight/obesity and obesity is rising fast in women. Policymakers, politicians and health promotion experts must urgently help communities control the spread of obesity in West Africa.</p>

KW - Obesity

KW - West Africa

U2 - 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2007.00462.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2007.00462.x

M1 - Article

JO - Obesity Reviews

JF - Obesity Reviews

IS - 4

VL - 9

SP - 297

EP - 311

ER -