Overweight, Obesity, and Perception of Body Image Among Slum Residents in Nairobi, Kenya, 2008–2009

Abstract

IntroductionThe increase in cardiovascular diseases in sub-Saharan Africa has been attributed in part to the changes in lifestyle, and the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease is higher among urban populations than among nonurban populations. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity and examine perceptions of body size differentiated by sex and other determinants among slum dwellers in Nairobi, Kenya.MethodsAnalysis included 4,934 adults randomly selected from the Korogocho and Viwandani slums of Nairobi. Height and weight were measured during interviews; body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Perceptions of current and ideal body image were determined by using 18 silhouette drawings of body sizes ranging from very thin to very obese. We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine predictors of underestimation of body weight among overweight and obese respondents.ResultsOverall, 43.4% of women and 17.3% of men in the study population were overweight or obese. More than half (53%) of those who were overweight or obese underestimated their weight; 34.6% of women and 16.9% of men did so. In all BMI categories, more than one-third of women and men preferred body sizes classified as overweight or obese.ConclusionThis study highlights the prevalence of overweight and obesity and the strong preference for larger body size among adults in the slums of Nairobi. Interventions to educate residents on the health risks associated with excess body weight are necessary as a part of strategies to reduce the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in these settlements.

Sociodemographic and behavioural factors associated with body mass index among men and women in Nairobi slums: AWI-Gen Project

“…The prevalence of obesity was 32% among women compared to 5% among men. Obesity prevalence has doubled since the last survey conducted in the same study area in 2009 [9]. However, the difference in BMI could be due to a higher mean age (48.5 years) of our study population compared to 42 years for the study conducted a decade ago.…”

“…In Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, where 60% of the population is estimated to be living in slums or slum-like conditions [8], 43.4% of women and 17.3% of men were overweight or obese [9]. Given the high poverty levels in the slums, most of the population may not have financial resources and knowledge to adapt healthier life styles and access treatment for NCDs.…”

“…Few studies have examined the risk factors for high BMI in urban slums. Epidemiological studies in Nairobi slums have focused mainly on obesity prevalence, with little emphasis on the contribution of socioeconomic, behavioural and biological as risk factors for obesity [9,12], and the risk factors for high BMI among men and women have not been separately examined in the same population yet, wide gender variations may exist in the risk factors. A study among women in Nairobi slums showed that most of the variance in BMI was explained by age, total physical activity, and percentage of fat consumed, parity and socio-economic group, together accounting for 18% of the variance in BMI [13].…”

Prevalence of Obesity and Associated Risk Factors amongst Teaching Staff of Juba University, South Sudan

“…Previously, this was a problem of high -income countries but is now dramatically on the rise in low and middle income countries, especially in urban settings (Scott, Ejikeme, Clottey, & Thomas, 2012). In Sub-Sahara Africa, prevalence of obesity has been found in the ranges of 21.9% to 43.4% (Ettarh R, Van de Vijver S, Oti S, 2013;Micklesfield LK, Lambert EV, Hume DJ, Chantler S & K., 2013;Msyamboza KP, Kathyola D, Dzowela T., 2013) and highest among women than men. Despite the high prevalence of under nutrition (caloric inadequacy) in Africa, diet related chronic diseases co-exist leading to a double burden of malnutrition (Schmidhuber J & Shettya P, 2005).…”

Body image perception and sense of agency: notes from the alien hand experiment

“…In parallel to BI satisfaction research, BI perception investigations have explored, for example, the association between overweight and tendencies to distort the real size perception of the own body (Ettarh, Van de Vijver, Oti, & Kyobutungi, 2013). Nevertheless, few studies have delved into the relationship between BI perception/ satisfaction and perception of body agency during action.…”