Female gender and wealth are associated to overweight among adolescents in La Paz, Bolivia

doi:doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602040

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition homepage

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005) 59, 82–87. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602040 Published online 11 August 2004

Female gender and wealth are associated to overweight among adolescents in La Paz, Bolivia

Guarantor: A. Pérez-Cueto.

Contributors: AP designed the study, coordinated the execution of the survey, performed the data management and analysis and was responsible for the writing of the manuscript. MA participated in the execution of the survey and gave critical comments on the design, methodology and final contents of the paper. PWK coordinated the study, participated in the design and contributed substantially to the contents of the paper.

A Pérez-Cueto¹, M Almanza² and P W Kolsteren¹

¹Nutrition and Child Health Unit, Department of Public Health, Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerpen, Belgium
²Responsible of the Health and Sexuality Inter-Sectors Programme, Ministry of Education, Calle Cap. Ravelo 2329, Piso 4, La Paz, Bolivia

Correspondence: A Pérez-Cueto, Nutrition Unit, Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, National estraat 155, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium. E-mail: aperezcueto@itg.be

Received 31 January 2004; Revised 10 June 2004; Accepted 22 June 2004; Published online 11 August 2004.

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Abstract

Objective: To describe the prevalence of overweight, obesity and being thin in adolescents of La Paz City, Bolivia.

Design: Cross-sectional study, clustered sampling.

Setting: La Paz, Bolivia, August–September 2003.

Subjects: Height and weight of 525 adolescents (mean age 16 y; s.d. plusminus 1.3) attending public and private schools were measured; sociodemographic characteristics were assessed with a short questionnaire.

Results: The present study reveals that 9.3% ( plusminus 2.5) of the sample are thin adolescents; 19.8% (3.4) is the overall prevalence of overweight and 2.3% (1.3) the overall prevalence of obesity. The odds of being thin were higher among those working (P=0.03) and among those of higher age (P<0.001). The odds of being overweight were higher among female subjects (P<0.001). The odds of being obese were higher among younger adolescents (P=0.046) and among the more wealthy ones (P=0.044).

Conclusions: A large prevalence of 22% overweight/obesity in adolescents from La Paz City was observed. The findings support the need of enhanced nutritional surveillance and interventions particularly in female adolescents.