Association between Dietary Behaviours and Weight Status of School Children: Results from the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE) -Kenya
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Date
2021
Authors
Wachira, Lucy-Joy
Muthuri, Stella
Ochola, Sophie
Onywera, Vincent
Tremblay, Mark
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tylor and Francis
Abstract
Background: Sub-Saharan African countries are undergoing rapid urbanization
resulting in vast changes in dietary habits. Dietary practices involving excess
energy intake have been associated with overweight/obesity. We assessed the
dietary behaviour of children and their relationships with weight status.
Methods: Data was collected in Kenya, as part of the International Study of
Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE). The study recruited
563 children aged 9–11 years from 29 schools in Nairobi. A seven-day food
frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake. Dietary behaviours
such as consumption of breakfast, school lunch, meals prepared/eaten away from
home, emotional eating and snacking while watching television were also
assessed. Body mass index (BMI-for-age and sex) was used as the indicator of
weight status.
Results: Of the sample, 53.5% were girls; 20.8% were classified as overweight/
obese; 72.9% ate meals out of home regularly; 55.2% ate lunch provided by the
school; and only 76% had breakfast on all weekdays. Eating more when happy,
eating fried foods while watching television, and consumption of vegetables
were positively associated with BMI. Majority of overweight children were
female (56.6%) and the type of school attended predicted BMI, F(6,
536) = 18.371, p < 0.0001, R2 = 0.171. BMI was negatively associated with
consumption of cakes/pastries (χ2 = 14.7, V = 0.165, p = 0.023), potato crisps
(χ2 = 21.6, V = 0.197, p = 0.003), and fast foods (χ2 = 13.5, p = 0.036). ANOVA
results revealed no significant differences in the consumption of foods with BMI
except for vegetables (p = 0.003).
Conclusions: Children have healthy diets rich in fruits and vegetables and low
in energy-dense foods. Also, less healthy diets were observed in children with lower BMI. There is need for interventions targeting the overweight/obese
children, particularly those of higher SES.
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Citation
Wachira, L. J., Muthuri, S., Ochola, S., Onywera, V., & Tremblay, M. (2021). Association between dietary behaviours and weight status of school children: results from the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE)-Kenya. Child and Adolescent Obesity, 4(1), 1-22.