: The prevalence of obesity has increased significantly in developing nations over the past
decade, particularly among adolescent girls. To assess the scale of this epidemic among female
adolescents in South Africa, a systematic review was undertaken to investigate the connection
between diet and obesity. Multiple databases (Google Scholar, Science Direct, Cochrane Library,
PubMed, and Web of Science) were searched to identify studies investigating the associations between
diet and various adiposity indices as outcomes. Of the 56 studies identified, 7 met the inclusion
criteria. The age range of participants spanned from 11 to 21 years. Tabulation was used to report
the data, study by study. The consumption of nutrients from animal sources exhibited a positive
correlation with higher BMI-for-age Z scores (p = 0.02). Eating habits such as sporadic family meals
(p ≤ 0.02), irregular breakfast consumption (p ≤ 0.05), and a high energy intake derived from fat
were linked to an increased risk of adiposity. Additionally, factors such as socioeconomic status
and residential location revealed associations with certain dietary intakes and adiposity. As more
studies identify the causative role of diet in obesity, there is an urgent need for policy intervention
and strategies to address the growing non-communicable disease burden in South Africa.
The prevalence of obesity has increased significantly in developing nations over the past decade, particularly among adolescent girls. To assess the scale of this epidemic among female adolescents in South Africa, a systematic review was undertaken to investigate the connection between diet and obesity. Multiple databases (Google Scholar, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science) were searched to identify studies investigating the associations between diet and various adiposity indices as outcomes. Of the 56 studies identified, 7 met the inclusion criteria. The age range of participants spanned from 11 to 21 years. Tabulation was used to report the data, study by study. The consumption of nutrients from animal sources exhibited a positive correlation with higher BMI-for-age Z scores (p = 0.02). Eating habits such as sporadic family meals (p ≤ 0.02), irregular breakfast consumption (p ≤ 0.05), and a high energy intake derived from fat were linked to an increased risk of adiposity. Additionally, factors such as socioeconomic status and residential location revealed associations with certain dietary intakes and adiposity. As more studies identify the causative role of diet in obesity, there is an urgent need for policy intervention and strategies to address the growing non-communicable disease burden in South Africa.
