The prevalence of, and factors associated with, overweight and obesity in Botswana

J Biosoc Sci. 2011 Jan;43(1):75-84. doi: 10.1017/S0021932010000519. Epub 2010 Sep 17.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of, and socio-demographic factors associated with, overweight and obesity in Botswana. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2007 using a multistage sampling method to select a representative sample of 4107 men and 4916 women aged 20-49 years. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the socio-demographic factors associated with overweight and obesity. Mean BMI values for men and women were 21.7 kg/m2 and 24.4 kg/m2, respectively. Both overweight and obesity levels were higher among women than men. Overall, 23% of women were overweight compared with 13% of men. Obese women constituted about 15% compared with only 3% of men. However, 19% of men were underweight compared with 12% of women. The main socio-demographic factors associated with overweight and obesity were being older, living in a city/town, being married and having attained higher levels of education, and these relationships were statistically significant at the 5% level. Although over-nutrition is prevalent among adult female Botswana, underweight remains an important public health problem for males. Programmes and other interventions aimed at concurrently addressing both under-nutrition and overweight need to be developed.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Body Mass Index
  • Body Weight
  • Botswana / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Marital Status
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / epidemiology*
  • Obesity / etiology
  • Odds Ratio
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Thinness / epidemiology
  • Thinness / etiology
  • Young Adult