Prevalence and factors associated with overweight and central obesity among adults in the Eastern Sudan

Abstract

Background A global epidemic of obesity has been documented, particularly among African countries. While central obesity and overweight have been reported for many countries, very limited information exists about the prevalence of these health problems in Sudan, and these data are nonexistent for Eastern Sudan. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity and central obesity, as well as the factors associated with both, among adults in Gadarif, Eastern Sudan. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Gadarif, Eastern Sudan, during the period of January through May 2018. Sociodemographic and health characteristics data were collected through a questionnaire. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were measured using the standard methods. Both descriptive and inferential statics were applied to analyze the data. Results A total of 594 adults participated in the study; 70.4% of them were female. The mean (standard deviation) age was 44.98 (16.64) years. Of the 594 enrolled participants, 33.7%, 7.4%, 26.8%, and 32.2% were normal weight, underweight, overweight, and obese, respectively. The prevalence of central obesity was (67.8%). Approximately, one-third of the participants (29.29%) were obese and had central obesity. In the multinomial regression, being married was the main risk factor associated with overweight, and older age, female sex, being married and hypertension were significantly associated with obesity. In the binary regression, the main risk factors associated with central obesity were female sex and being married.

<p>Magnitude of Central Obesity and its Associated Factors Among Adults in Urban Areas of Northwest Ethiopia</p>

“…52 In this study, being female was found to be associated with central obesity. This finding is consistent with the studies done in Brazil, 34 Oman, 37 Eastern Sudan, 38 Northern Iran, 41 and Southern China. 53 The exact molecular link between being female and central obesity is not clearly addressed yet.…”

“…This finding is in line with studies done in Brazil 34 and China. 35 However, our finding is lower than that of studies done in the USA, 36 Omani adults, 37 Eastern Sudan, 38 and Gondar, Ethiopia. 39 Conversely, the current finding is higher than that of the studies done in Northwest China, 40 Northern Iran, 41 India, 42 and Egypt.…”

Prevalence and associated factors of abdominal obesity among the adult population in Woldia town, Northeast Ethiopia, 2020: Community-based cross-sectional study

“…A number of studies report prevalence of abdominal obesity as 62.5% in Brazil [ 15 ], 37.6% in China [ 22 ], 58% in South Africa [ 23 ], 24.8% in Tanzania [ 24 ], and 67.8% in Sudan [ 25 ]. However, there are few studies in Ethiopia on abdominal obesity.…”

Prevalence and correlates of multiple non-communicable diseases risk factors among adults in Sudan: Results of the first national STEPS survey in 2016

“…The prevalence of hypertension was higher than in previous three local surveys, in four states (Khartoum, Gezira, Blue Nile, and Kassala) (16.6%) [7], in the 2005-2006 Khartoum State SEPS survey (23.6%) [10], and in Khartoum State in Sudan (27.6%) [11], but lower than in two other local surveys in Gadarif, Eastern Sudan (40.8%) [8], and in four main cities of the River Nile State, north Sudan (35.7%) [9]. The prevalence of overweight/obesity (28.0%) was lower than in four states (Khartoum, Gezira, Blue Nile, and Kassala) (56.1%) [5], and in Gadarif, Eastern Sudan (59.0%) [6]. The high prevalence of inadequate fruit and vegetable intake (94.6%) in this survey was also found in a community in Kassala State, Sudan (72.8% and 36.2% rarely or did not consume fruit and vegetables, respectively) [15].…”

“…There is lack of national data on the prevalence of multiple NCD risk factors and associated factors among adults in community-based surveys in Sudan, a low-income country geographically in sub-Saharan Africa. Some population-based studies among adults in Sudan were sub-national and only focused on speci c NCD risk factors, such as the prevalence of overweight/obesity was 56.1% in four states (Khartoum, Gezira, Blue Nile, and Kassala) [5], 59.0% in Gadarif, Eastern Sudan [6], hypertension was 16.6% in four states (Khartoum, Gezira, Blue Nile, and Kassala) [7], 40.8% in Gadarif, Eastern Sudan [8], the 35.7% in four main cities of the River Nile State, north Sudan [9], 23.6% in the [2005][2006] Khartoum State STEPS survey [10], and 27.6% in Khartoum State in Sudan [11]. The prevalence of diabetes was 19.1% in four main cities of the River Nile State, north Sudan [12], 18.7% in the Northern State and River Nile State [13], and 19.8% in the 2005-2006 Khartoum State STEPS survey [10].…”