Age, Educational Attainment and Household Socio-Economic Status Influence the Risk of Overweight and Obesity Among Women in Uganda

Abstract

Obesity is a leading non-communicable disease pandemic of the digital revolution period, associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality from myriad of chronic diseases, high healthcare costs and disproportionately affects more women than men in Uganda. The extent to which age, educational attainment and household socio-economic status influence the risk of overweight and obesity are less investigated in Uganda. This study examined the effect of age, educational attainment and household socio-economic status on overweight and obesity among 5,397 non-pregnant women aged 15-49 years that participated in the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey. The outcomes (overweight and obesity) were measured using body mass index. Self-reported age, educational attainment and household socio-economic status were the exposure variables of interest. Binary logistic regression models adjusted for confounding variables were employed to determine association between exposure and outcome variables. Results showed that 16.6 and 7.1% of the women were overweight and obese respectively. The largest proportion (23.74%) of women was aged that in the age group of 15-19 years. 56.6% attained primary level education, 24% were living in the richest households. Being in the age group of 45-49 years was associated with increased risk of overweight (OR 2.45; 95% CI, 1.39-4.33) and obesity (OR 10.59; 95% CI, 4.08 -27.52).There was inadequate evidence to demonstrate existence of an association between educational attainment and overweight and obesity. Household socio-economic status was associated with increased risk of overweight (OR 2.22; 95% CI, 1.68-2.93) for women in rich households and (OR 3.07; 95% CI, 2.26-4.18) for women in the richest households compared to those living in poor households. Similarly household socio-economic status was associated with increased risk of obesity (OR 4.96; 95% CI, 2.96-8.31) for women in rich and (OR 14.97; 95% CI, 8.77-25.57) for those in the richest households in comparison with women in poor households respectively. Conclusively, whereas there seems to be no relationship between educational attainment and overweight and obesity, age, and household socio-economic status are positively associated with overweight and obesity among non-pregnant women of reproductive age in Uganda.