Magnitude, trends, transitions, and drivers of the double burden of malnutrition among adolescent girls in urban slums, Kenya: findings from a longitudinal study (2017–2019)

Abstract

Background: The double burden of malnutrition (DBM) in adolescence has adverse short- and long-term, intergenerational health, developmental, and economic consequences. This study aimed to investigate the magnitude, trends, transitions, and drivers of population-level DBM (stunting, thinness, and overweight/obesity) among adolescent girls in urban slums in Nairobi, Kenya. Methods: Adolescent girls (n = 419) were recruited from two slums and followed up from 2017 to 2019. Socio-demographic and anthropometric data were collected. BMI-for-age (BFAZ) and height-for-age (HFAZ) Z-scores were computed and categorised as thinness (BFAZ 1.0 SD), stunting (HFAZ