Children body mass index trends in four low- and middle-income countries: Analysis of young lives cohort study data

Abstract

Background: Body mass index is a helpful tool for determining underweight, overweight, or obese in children and adults. Objectives: The study investigates trends of BMI and its distribution by age group, gender, and urban-rural location in four low and middle-income countries. Methods: This study adopted a mixed-effect model to examine the BMI trend from 2006 to 2016 using evidence obtained from the Young Lives cohort study in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam. Results: The study found significant variations and increases in BMI between 2006 and 2016 in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam. Peru had the highest BMI changes in both genders and urban-rural areas. A low BMI was observed in Ethiopia and India. Gender and urban-rural differences had a significant role in determining BMI variations. The mean BMI increased from 15.05 kg/m2 (95% CI: 14.99–15.11) to 18.52 kg/m2 (95% CI: 18.4–18.63) in males and from 14.8 kg/m2 (95% CI: 14.74–14.86) to 19.46 kg/m2 (95% CI: 19.34–19.57) in females. Conclusions: From 2006 to 2016, BMI trends varied in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam. Differences between urban and rural areas and gender have a big role in determining BMI variations.

Keywords

• Body mass index
• Mixed-effect
• Gender
• Rural-urban