The prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in a multiracial group of urban adolescent schoolchildren in the Cape Metropole area of Cape Town
Date
2014-10
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MedPharm Publications
Abstract
Abstract
Objective: The objective was to determine the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in high school learners in the Cape Town area.
Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted.
Setting: High schools in the Cape Metropole Area of the Western Cape.
Subjects: A complex cluster sampling procedure was followed. Thirty-six students per school were selected from each randomly selected school. Thirteen- to 18-year-old pupils were eligible for inclusion.
Outcome measures: Height and weight measurements.
Results: The sample comprised 689 students. There were considerably more underweight adolescent boys than adolescent girls (17.3% boys to 9.9% girls), and double the frequency of overweight adolescent girls than adolescent boys (7.7% girls to 3.5% boys). The 14-year-old boys had the highest prevalence of underweight (55.2%), and the 17-year-old girls the highest prevalence of overweight (22%). The highest prevalence of obesity was found in 15-year-old boys (11.1%), who also demonstrated a relatively high prevalence of underweight (30.2%).
Conclusion: This study reported on a substantial percentage of underweight adolescents (27.1%). Noteworthy levels of overweight and obesity in adolescent girls added to the substantial prevalence of underweight in adolescent boys. Africa has enough to contend with in respect of transmissible diseases, without additional lifestyle-based health burdens.
Description
CITATION: Van Niekerk, S. M., Grimmer, K. & Louw, Q. 2014. The prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in a multiracial group of urban adolescent schoolchildren in the Cape Metropole area of Cape Town. South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 27(1):18-24.
The original publication is available at http://www.sajcn.co.za
The original publication is available at http://www.sajcn.co.za
Keywords
School children -- Cape Metropole area of Cape Town, Leanness, Malnutrition in children, Obesity in adolescence
Citation
Van Niekerk, S. M., Grimmer, K. & Louw, Q. 2014. The prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in a multiracial group of urban adolescent schoolchildren in the Cape Metropole area of Cape Town. South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 27(1):18-24