Magnitude of overweight/obesity and associated eating patterns and eating frequency among primary school children in ilala district, Dar es salaam-Tanzania in 2021

Abstract

Background: Overweight in children is a condition in which a child has excess fat than optimally healthy. The prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased from 5.2% in 2013(1) to 15.9% and 6.7% overweight and obesity respectively in 2016 (2). In Tanzania, most nutritional interventions are directed towards under-nutrition, among the under-fives, with fewer nutritional assessments among school aged children. Objective: To determine the magnitude of overweight and associated eating patterns and frequency among primary school children aged 10-13years in Ilala District. Methodology: A cross sectional study conducted among standard 5 respondents from St Joseph, Muhimbili, Ilala, and Tusiime primary schools in Ilala District in Tanzania. Cluster sampling technique was used to select the respondents, two clusters; government and private schools were established. A random selection of two schools from each cluster from was done. Socio-demographic characteristics, food patterns and eating frequency were determined using a pre-tested 7-day Food frequency questionnaire with 48 items. Magnitude of overweight was determined by BMI for age and sex computed using measured weight and height. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Result: A total of 374 primary school respondents were recruited in to the study. 206 were female, 188 were studying in private schools and 186 in government schools. Majority of the respondents 259 were aged 10-11 years. The magnitude of overweight and obesity was 14.44% and 23.26% respectively. Significant eating patterns of being overweight were found to be high consumption of fried breakfast snacks (AOR= 21.6, 95% CI: 5.56, 84.01), high consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (AOR=6.61, 95% CI: 1.29, 33.8) and high consumption of High calorie foods (AOR=2.26, 95% CI: 0.49, 13.89) and eating frequency of more than three meals per day (AOR=1.23, 95% CI: 0.32, 4.76). Conclusion: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among primary school children in Ilala District is high and requires attention and deliberate intervention strategies such as moderation of foods sold around school environments that are highly associated with overweight, since school is where children spend most of their time.