Abstract:
BACKGROUND. Globally, in children the prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing, and this is associated with an increased risk of
non-communicable diseases in adulthood. There is a need to examine the growing trends of overweight and obesity in children and their
consequences in low- and middle-income countries.
OBJECTIVES. To describe the prevalence of, and determine the relationship between, stunting and overweight among children in two
provinces of South Africa.
METHODS. Secondary data analysis was conducted on anthropometric measurements of 36 - 119-month-old children from Gauteng and
Mpumalanga provinces (N=519) participating in the South African National Food Consumption Survey – Fortification Baseline I (2005).
The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) body mass index (BMI) reference percentiles were used to determine overweight and obesity.
The World Health Organization standards were used to derive z-scores.
RESULTS. The prevalence of overweight was 12.0% (IOTF BMI ≥25 kg/m2), including 3.7% obesity (IOTF BMI ≥30 kg/m2). The
predominantly urban Gauteng Province had a significantly higher prevalence of overweight children (14.1%) compared with Mpumalanga
(6.3%) (p=0.0277). The prevalence of stunting was 17.0% (16.5% Gauteng, 18.2% Mpumalanga; p>0.05). There was a significant correlation
(r=−0.32) between BMI and height-for-age z-scores (p<0.0001). In the obese group, 68.4% were stunted, while in the normal and
underweight group only 13.6% were stunted.
CONCLUSIONS. Stunted children were more likely to be obese. Further research is necessary for clarity on the physiological mechanisms of
this relationship. In the interim, prevention of stunting requires priority.
