Abstract

SYMINGTON, E A; GERICKE, G J; NEL, J H  and  LABADARIOS, D. The relationship between stunting and overweight among children from South Africa: Secondary analysis of the National Food Consumption Survey - Fortification Baseline I. SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. [online]. 2016, vol.106, n.1, pp.65-69. ISSN 2078-5135.  http://dx.doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2016.V106I1.9839.

BACKGROUND: Globally, in children the prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing, and this is associated with an increased risk of non-communicable diseases in adulthood. There is a need to examine the growing trends of overweight and obesity in children and their consequences in low- and middle-income countries. OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence of, and determine the relationship between, stunting and overweight among children in two provinces of South Africa. METHODS: Secondary data analysis was conducted on anthropometric measurements of 36 - 119-month-old children from Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces (N=519) participating in the South African National Food Consumption Survey - Fortification Baseline I (2005). The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) body mass index (BMI) reference percentiles were used to determine overweight and obesity. The World Health Organization standards were used to derive z-scores. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight was 12.0% (IOTF BMI >25 kg/m²), including 3.7% obesity (IOTF BMI >30 kg/m²). The predominantly urban Gauteng Province had a significantly higher prevalence of overweight children (14.1%) compared with Mpumalanga (6.3%) (p=0.0277). The prevalence of stunting was 17.0% (16.5% Gauteng, 18.2% Mpumalanga; p>0.05). There was a significant correlation (r=-0.32) between BMI and height-for-age z-scores (p<0.0001). In the obese group, 68.4% were stunted, while in the normal and underweight group only 13.6% were stunted. CONCLUSIONS: Stunted children were more likely to be obese. Further research is necessary for clarity on the physiological mechanisms of this relationship. In the interim, prevention of stunting requires priority.

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