Predictors of Overweight and Obesity Among Children and Adolescents in Developing Countries: A Literature Review

Abstract

Overweight and obesity have been a global pandemic over the years, with their prevalence increasing at an alarming rate. It has become a severe health problem that severely affects health and quality of life. The aim of this study is to elucidate the factors linked to overweight and obesity among school-aged children and adolescents in developing countries. Electronic databases such as Google Scholar and PubMed were searched from 2007 to 2017. Only studies on children and adolescents under 19 years from developing countries were included. The results were screened, and we had full-text papers on topics available in English and passed the critical appraisal process using the Quality Assessment Tool developed by the Effective Public Health Project. A total of nine cross sectional studies met the criteria, thus they were included in the final review. All of the studies were conducted in rural/urban settings in Asia and Africa, with population and sample consisted of children and adolescents under 19 years old. The potential risk factors with a solid relationship with overweight and obesity included genetics, demographics, socioeconomic status, physical inactivity, and dietary habit. This literature review provides evidence of predictors or critical contributors to the increasing number of childhood obesity and overweight in developing countries. The involvement of a range of actors and stakeholders is needed to tackle the problem of obesity in children.