Two-decade trends and factors associated with overweight and obesity among young adults in Nepal

Abstract

Overweight and obesity are global epidemics in the adult population, and also affect young<br/>people. This study estimated the long-term trend (1996–2019) of overweight and obesity<br/>among young adults aged 18 to 29 years in Nepal by sex based on the World Health Organization<br/>(WHO) and Asian cut-offs for body mass index (BMI). We also investigated the demographic<br/>factors associated with overweight and obesity in the latest survey. This study<br/>utilized data from nationwide studies, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHSs) and WHO<br/>STEPwise approach to surveillance (STEPS) surveys. The trends in overweight and obesity<br/>were studied using trend analysis and joinpoint regression. Average annual percent<br/>changes (AAPCs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for the trends.<br/>Multivariable logistic regression was used to study the factors associated with overweight<br/>and obesity. The study findings showed significant upward trends in both overweight and<br/>obesity for women with AAPCs of 10.5 (95% CI 6.4–14.7) and 15.8 (95% CI 10.9–20.8)<br/>respectively. In the 25–29 age-group, the prevalence of overweight/obesity increased<br/>among women from 2.2% to 24.7% between 1996 and 2019, and among men from 8.8% to<br/>25.4% between 2007 and 2019. Increased odds of overweight (AOR 9.15, 95% CI 6.64–<br/>12.60), and obesity (AOR 42.09, 95% CI 10.12–175.04) were found in 2019 compared to<br/>1996. Older age and female sex, being married and urban residence were significantly associated<br/>with overweight and obesity. In conclusion, this study showed rapid upward trends in<br/>overweight and obesity among young adults in Nepal with an accelerated trend among<br/>women; the predictors for overweight were older age, female sex and married status, and<br/>those for obesity were older age, female sex, and urban residence.