Dataset Information

Fast food consumption among young adolescents aged 12-15 years in 54 low- and middle-income countries.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Most countries worldwide, especially low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), are facing an increasing prevalence of fast-food consumption and multiple burdens of malnutrition among young adolescents.

Objective

To compare the prevalence of fast-food consumption among young adolescents in LMICs.

Methods

We used data from the most recent Global School-Based Student Health Survey (2009-2015), which had been collected using a standardized questionnaire. The weighted prevalence and 95% confidential intervals of fast-food consumption were calculated overall and in subgroups stratified by age, sex, and nutritional status. The pooled overall and regional estimates were obtained using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. The associated risk factors for fast-food consumption were explored using logistic regression analysis.

Results

Our study comprised 153,496 young adolescents (46.90% boys) from 54 LMICs. Overall, approximately 55.2% (51.3-59.1%) of the adolescents consumed fast food at least 1 day per week, and 10.3% (8.3-12.4%) did so 4-7 days per week. The prevalence of fast-food consumption 4-7 days per week was lowest in the Americas (8.3%; 6.7-9.9%) and highest in Southeast Asia (17.7%; 2.3-33.2%). At a country level, the prevalence was lowest in Pakistan (1.5%; 1.0-2.0%) and highest in Thailand (43.3%; 40.4-46.1%). Furthermore, in subgroups stratified by nutritional status, the prevalence was lowest in the obesity group (6.6%; 4.5-8.7%). Factors such as age, sex, BMI, food insecurity, fruit consumption, vegetable consumption, soft-drink consumption, smoking, physical activity level, and sedentary behavior level were found to be correlated with fast-food consumption.

Conclusions

The identified high prevalence of fast-food consumption among young adolescents in LMICs indicates the urgent need to prioritize the implementation of healthy-diet promotion programs to improve adolescent health in these countries.

SUBMITTER: Li L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7480506 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:IntroductionSecondhand smoking (SHS) may be a risk factor for obesity in adolescence, but data on the association between SHS and obesity are scarce, especially from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the association between SHS and obesity among adolescents aged 12-15 years from 38 LMICs.MethodsCross-sectional data from 38 LMICs that participated in the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) were analyzed. Body mass index was calculated based on measured weight and height. The 2007 WHO Child Growth reference was used to define obesity. SHS was categorized as no exposure, non-daily exposure (ie, 1-6 days), and daily exposure (ie, 7 days) based on the number of days exposed to secondhand smoke in the past 7 days. Multivariable logistic regression and meta-analyses were conducted to assess the associations.ResultsThe analyzed sample consisted of 88 209 adolescents aged 12-15 years who never smoked. The overall prevalence of non-daily and daily SHS was 34.2% and 15.7%, respectively. After adjustment for potential confounders, compared with no SHS, there was no significant association between non-daily SHS and obesity (odds ratio [OR] = 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.86-1.02), but adolescents who reported daily SHS were significantly more likely to have obesity (OR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.06-1.34).ConclusionsThe prevalence of SHS was high among adolescents in LMICs, and daily SHS was associated with a significant increase in odds of obesity. Future studies with longitudinal designs are warranted to assess causality and whether prevention of SHS can reduce the risk of obesity in adolescence.ImplicationsIn the present large multi-country study on adolescents aged 12-15 years from LMICs, nearly half of the students were exposed to non-daily or daily secondhand smoke. Overall, while non-daily SHS was not significantly associated with obesity, adolescents who reported daily SHS had a significant 1.19 (95% CI = 1.06-1.34) times higher odds of obesity than those who reported no exposure to secondhand smoke. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first multi-country study on SHS and obesity from LMICs, and also the largest study on this topic to date.