The prevalence of overweight and obesity and the assessment of associated risk factors among school-aged adolescents in Kandahar City, Afghanistan

TL;DR

This study finds that 13.3% of male adolescents in Kandahar City are overweight or obese, with risk factors including parental obesity, screen time, and school canteen food.

Contribution

The study provides the first assessment of obesity prevalence and risk factors among male adolescents in Kandahar City, Afghanistan.

Findings

13.3% of male adolescents in Kandahar City are overweight or obese.

Parental obesity, screen time ≥30 minutes/day, and school canteen food consumption are significant predictors of higher BMI percentiles.

The study highlights the need for family-centered education and improved school nutrition policies.

Abstract

Adolescent obesity is a growing global public health issue, contributing to the early onset of non-communicable diseases like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. In South Asia, including Afghanistan, urbanization and lifestyle changes have triggered a nutritional shift marked by unhealthy diets and reduced physical activity. Yet, research on adolescent obesity in Afghanistan, particularly in urban areas like Kandahar, is scarce. Kandahar’s rapid development and cultural diversity necessitate an assessment of obesity prevalence and associated risk factors among school-going adolescents to inform health policies.

This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 384 male adolescents (aged 10–19 years) in Kandahar City between February and July 2023. Height and weight were measured to calculate BMI, which was classified using CDC BMI-for-age percentiles.

The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 13.3%. Multivariate analysis identified parental obesity (+10.4; p = 0.002), screen time ≥30 minutes/day (+8.8; p = 0.011), and consumption of school canteen food (7.8; p = 0.037) as significant predictors of higher BMI percentiles.

Targeted interventions involving Family-centered education, promotion of active lifestyles, and regulation of school nutrition are critical to address adolescent obesity in this setting. Findings are limited to male adolescents due to cultural constraints and may not be generalizable to females.

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