Prevalence of overweight and obesity among African primary school learners: a systematic review and meta-analysis

T Adom; A P Kengne; A De Villiers; T Puoane

doi:10.1002/osp4.355

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among African primary school learners: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Obes Sci Pract. 2019 Aug 20;5(5):487-502. doi: 10.1002/osp4.355. eCollection 2019 Oct.

Authors

T Adom^{1

2}, A P Kengne³, A De Villiers⁴, T Puoane¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences University of Western Cape Cape Town South Africa.
² Nutrition Research Centre Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission Accra Ghana.
³ Non-communicable Disease Research Unit South African Medical Research Council Cape Town South Africa.
⁴ Division of Research Capacity Development South African Medical Research Council Cape Town South Africa.

Abstract

Introduction: The increasing trend in the global prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity presents a major public health challenge. This study reports the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among primary school learners residing in Africa according to the different body mass index criteria and population level characteristics.

Methods: A search of multiple databases was conducted to identify relevant research articles published between January 1980 and February 2017. Random effects models were used to pool prevalence data within and across population level characteristics after variance stabilization through arcsine transformation (PROSPERO registration number CRD42016035248).

Results: Data from 45 studies across 15 African countries, and comprising 92,379 and 89,468 participants for overweight and obesity estimates were included. Estimated overweight and obesity prevalence differed significantly across criteria: 10.5% [95% confidence interval, CI: 7.1-14.3] and 6.1% [3.4-9.7] by World Health Organization; 9.5% [6.5-13.0] and 4.0% [2.5-5.9] by International Obesity Task Force; and 11.5% [9.6-13.4] and 6.9% [5.0-9.0] by Centre for Diseases Control, respectively (p = 0.0027 for overweight; p < 0.0001 for obesity). Estimates were mostly higher in urban, and private schools, but generally similar by gender, major geographic regions, publication year and sample size. Substantial heterogeneity in the estimates across and within criteria were not always explained by major study characteristics.

Conclusion: Overweight and obesity are prevalent among African primary school learners, particularly those attending urban, and private schools. The results from this meta-analysis could be helpful in making informed decisions on childhood obesity prevention efforts in African countries.

Keywords: Africa; Meta‐analysis; Overweight; learners.

Publication types

Review