Prevalence of overweight and obesity among selected schoolchildren and adolescents in Cofimvaba, South Africa

Figures & data

Table 1: Socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents

Factor	n (%)	Overweight by BMI for age (%)	Overweight by MUAC for age (%)
Gender:
Female	109 (51.9)	25.7*	12.8*
Male	102 (48.3)	8.8	2.0
Age:
6–9 years	54 (25.6)	20.4	9.3
10–19 years	157 (74.4)	16.6	7.0
Family size:
< 6 persons	176 (83.3)	17.0*	3.5
≥ 6 persons	35 (16.7)	36.3	11.1
Accommodation:
Shared	158 (74.9)	20.9	8.5
Not shared	53 (25.1)	8.5	2.0
Permanent residence:
Yes	189 (89.6)	18.1	6.4
No	22 (10.4)	15.0	10.0

Table 2: Means of anthropometric profiles of the respondents

Factor	Girls (n = 109)	Boys (n = 102)
Age (years)	12.17 ± 3.79	12.80 ± 3.37
Height (m)	144.49 ± 16.62	150.34 ± 19.19*
Weight (kg)	42.52 ± 16.72	41.91 ± 14.90
BMI (kg/m^2)	19.47 ± 4.00	17.88 ± 2.67*
MUAC (cm)	22.21 ± 4.20	21.00 ± 3.36
TSF (mm)	8.86 ± 5.56	4.94 ± 1.28*
Percentage body fat (%)	22.10 ± 10.2	14.3 ± 3.7*

Figure 1: Prevalence of overweight/obesity in Cofimvaba students aged 6–19 years.

Table 3: Difference in TSFT and anthropometry according to weight status

Weight status	n	BMI (kg/m2)	MUAC (mm)	Ultrasound TSFT (mm)	Body fat (%)
Female
Non-overweight	81	18.0 ± 2.7	20.9 ± 3.3	7.7 ± 4.8	20.5 ± 9.7
Overweight/obese	28	23.7 ± 4.1	26.0 ± 4.5	12.3 ± 6.2	26.7 ± 10.5
Total	109	19.5 ± 4.0	22.2 ± 4.2	8.8 ± 5.6	22.1 ± 10.2
p-value		0.000	0.000	0.000	0.005
Male
Non-overweight	93	17.5 ± 2.2	20.7 ± 3.1	4.7 ± 1.1	14.1 ± 3.4
Overweight/obese	9	21.8 ± 3.9	24.1 ± 4.6	7.1 ± 1.4	18.0 ± 4.4
Total	102	17.7 ± 2.7	21.0 ± 3.4	4.9 ± 1.3	14.4 ± 3.7
p-value		0.000	0.003	0.000	0.002

Table 4: Correlation coefficients of MUAC/TSF with other anthropometric indicators

Factor	Girls (n = 109)	Boys (n = 102)	6–9 years (n = 54)	10–19 years (n = 157)	Total (n = 211)
Mid-upper arm circumference
Age	0.789**	0.736**			0.771**
Height	0.819**	0.781**	0.363**	0.602**	0.789**
Weight	0.959**	0.919**	0.828**	0.912**	0.931**
BMI	0.951**	0.888**	0.870**	0.923**	0.921**
Triceps	0.694**	0.236**	0.503**	0.564**	0.508**
	Triceps skinfold thickness
Age	0.607**	NS			0.339**
Height	0.555**	NS	NS	NS	0.240**
Weight	0.682**	NS	0.452**	0.453**	0.478**
BMI	0.695**	0.416**	0.854**	0.621**	0.643**
MUAC	0.694**	0.236**	0.503**	0.564**	0.508**

** p < 0.001; NS = not significant, p > 0.05.

Table 5: Accuracy of MUAC and ultrasound triceps to predict overweight and obesity

Age group	Mid-upper arm circumference				Ultrasound triceps skinfold thickness
	Area	SE	p-value	95% CI	Area	SE	p-value	95% CI
6–9 years, girls	0.763	0.119	0.036	0.529–0.997	0.860	0.089	0.004	0.686–1.000
6–9 years, boys	0.944	0.058	0.006	0.631–1.000	0.924	0.075	0.009	0.776–1.000
10–19 years, girls	0.934	0.029	0.000	0.877–0.982	0.728	0.060	0.002	0.611–0.845
10–19 years, boys	0.899	0.081	0.003	0.740–1.000	0.903	0.064	0.003	0.777–1.000
Total	0.795	0.048	0.000	0.761–0.889	0.835	0.033	0.000	0.771–0.899