The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Overweight and Obesity Among Women of Reproductive Age with Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Urban Bangladesh (P10-064-19)

• Published in: Current developments in nutrition Vol. 3; no. Supplement_1; p. nzz034.P10-064-19
• Main Authors: Ali, Nazia, Huda, Tanvir, Islam, Sajia, Dibley, Michael, Rahman, Masudur, Raihana, Shahreen, Rahman, Qazi Sadequr, Bhuiya, Shams, El Arifeen, Shams
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.06.2019; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Age; Anemia; Bangladesh; bivariate analysis; blood serum; body mass index; dose response; education; employment; ferritin; Global Nutrition; household income; Iron; iron deficiency anemia; issues and policy; Malnutrition; marital status; nutrient deficiencies; Obesity; Overweight; regression analysis; Risk factors; sociodemographic characteristics; socioeconomic status; Women; World Health Organization; Bangladesh
• ISSN: 2475-2991; 2475-2991
• DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzz034.P10-064-19

This study aims to identify the prevalence and risk factors of overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) with iron deficiency anaemia in urban Bangladesh. We obtained data for this study from the baseline assessment of a randomized control trial conducted among women of reproductive age with iron deficiency anemia (Hb <12 g/dl & serum ferritin <30 μg/L). The trial was carried out in Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh between December 2017 and January 2019. As part of the baseline assessment, we collected data on women’s sociodemographic characteristics and reproductive history from 525 participants. We also measured the height, weight, and MUAC at the baseline. We estimated BMI using formula; weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. As per the WHO classification, we considered women with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 to be overweight and ≥30 kg/m2 to be obese. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to ascertain the risk factors of overweight and obesity. Of the 525 study participants, 157 (30%; 95% CI 26.0 - 34.0) were overweight and 69 (13%; 95% CI 10.3 - 16.3) were obese. Bivariate analysis indicated that the age of women, parity, women’s education, women’s employment, marital status, husband’s education and household wealth were associated with overweight and obesity. The multivariable analysis showed married women (OR 2.9; CI 1.0–8.3), women aged 40 to 49 years (OR 7.4; CI 2.4–22.9) and women from the higher social economic household (OR 5.8; CI 2.7-12.4) has the highest risk of overweight and obesity. Both age and household socioeconomic status showed dose response relationship. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age with iron deficiency anemia in urban Bangladesh is three times higher than the WHO critical threshold of 15%. This highlights that Bangladesh is undergoing an epidemiologic transition characterized by the double burden of malnutrition. It is crucial that the policy makers understand what new interventions and policy initiatives are needed to address the double burden of malnutrition in the country. Saving Lives at Birth and Medical Research Council, UK. ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪