Double Burden of Malnutrition among Bangladeshi Women: A Literature Review

Abstract

A narrative review was carried out of existing literature comprising nationally representative data. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and Banglajol databases. Quantitative studies reporting the prevalence and risk factors of the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) among Bangladeshi women based on nationally representative data were considered for this review. We included studies published between 1st May 2007 and 30th April 2017 in English language. Two researchers individually searched and screened all the relevant articles and separately extracted data using a data extraction table created in Microsoft Excel. Another researcher cross-checked the whole process to maintain consistency. Any sort of disagreement was resolved by group consensus. Thematic analysis was performed for data analysis. According to the included studies, the prevalence of underweight and stunting dramatically reduced among Bangladeshi women in last 10 years, though, nearly one-fourth of women are underweight and one-fifth of women are stunted in Bangladesh. Additionally, nearly half of the country’s women are suffering from different micronutrient deficiencies. This immense burden of undernutrition is accompanied by the presence of overweight or obesity among nearly half of the adult women. Women’s age, area of residence, education and wealth index have a significant influence on determining their nutritional status. DBM is an inevitable reality among Bangladesh women. The adverse health consequences of women’s undernutrition and overnutrition have been well documented. As women’s nutritional status is a multifaceted issue, effective implementation of very specific and focused public health interventions with inclusive multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder approaches are indispensable to combat this problem.

Determinants of overweight/obesity among reproductive age group women in Ethiopia: multilevel analysis of Ethiopian demographic and health survey

“…The odds of overweight/obesity among women aged 25–34, 35–44, 45–49 years was higher compared with women with age group of 15–24 years. This finding is similar with many studies conducted elsewhere 23 24 27–29. This could be due to a change in body composition such as an increase and redistribution of body fat and hormonal changes following increment of age, which are accompanied by a less active lifestyle, leading to an increased risk of overweight and obesity among aged women 30…”

The double burden of malnutrition among adults in India: evidence from the National Family Health Survey-4 (2015-16)

“…The wealth index was calculated using the number and type of other South Asian countries such as Bangladesh and Nepal have a high proportion of underweight adults, along with a growing prevalence of overweight/obesity [6,7]. The presence of underweight coexisting with a rising prevalence of overweight/obesity is defined as the dual burden of malnutrition, and it poses major health challenges among the adult populations of developing countries, including India.…”

Fish is the Preferred Animal-Source Food in the Rural Community of Southern Bangladesh

“…Despite a significant improvement in reducing hunger and food insecurity in Bangladesh, malnutrition (under-and over-nutrition) continues to remain a serious public health concern [1]; 35% of children under five years children are stunted (low height for age), and 35% of adolescent girls and 16% of adult females have low body mass index (BMI) [2]. While there is a steady but slow decrease in under-nutrition among young children and women; a sharp continual increase in over-nutrition (overweight and obesity), is also seen among the same population [3,4]. In addition, multiple micronutrient (essential vitamins and minerals, for example, vitamin A, vitamin B12, folic acid, riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, calcium, iron, zinc, and iodine) deficiencies reported in Bangladesh, are highly prevalent especially among women of reproductive age (15-49 years), and pre-school and school-aged children [5][6][7][8].…”