Coexistence of obesity and hunger in young adolescents: Evidence from the Global School‐based Student Health Survey

Abstract

Summary Background Hunger and obesity among young adolescents are serious public health issues; however, the relationship between these issues in this demographic has yet to be examined. Objective To determine whether both obesity and hunger coexist in young adolescents from a global perspective. Methods We analysed data of 142 565 adolescents (age, 12–15 years) from 60 countries from the Global School‐based Student Health Survey. Results Total prevalence of moderate and severe hunger was 22.32% and 7.8%, respectively—with the highest in Africa (29.14% and 12.14%, respectively) and the lowest in the Americas (16.83% and 5.31%, respectively). The prevalence of obesity among adolescents with severe hunger was 1.26 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15–1.38) times the prevalence among those without hunger; however, this association varied across countries or regions. Moreover, the prevalence of obesity was 17% (95% CI: 1.04–1.29) higher in adolescent girls with moderate hunger in high‐income countries, 91% (95% CI: 1.23–2.58) higher in adolescents with severe hunger in low‐income countries and 54% (95% CI: 1.34–1.76) higher in lower middle–income countries compared to those without hunger. Conclusions Both obesity and hunger coexist in adolescent populations worldwide. Our findings emphasize the need for double‐duty actions to simultaneously address burdens of hunger and obesity among adolescents.