Abstract
Objectives
To assess the association between overweight/obesity and anemia in early childhood in Tajikistan.
Methods
Using a two-stage-cluster sampling, a representative sample of 1342 children (48.7% girls) aged 25–60 months was included in a nationwide survey in Tajikistan in 2009. Weight status was defined by age- and gender-specific body mass index, anemia by hemoglobin < 11 g/dl, according to WHO cut-off values for children, adjusted for altitude. Gender-stratified association of anemia and overweight/obesity was estimated by mixed models, controlling for age, parental education, and location type and region.
Results
In the study population, the prevalence of anemia was 20.0%, overweight 13.0%, and obesity 9.5%. In multivariable analyses, obesity and overweight were not associated with anemia. Lower age and living in the remote region of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast were associated with a higher prevalence of anemia.
Conclusions
In Tajikistan, anemia is at a moderate level, affecting every fifth child aged 25–60 months. Around every fifth child is overweight or obese. Interventions should focus on preventing anemia and overweight/obesity.
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Acknowledgements
The Micronutrient Status Survey in Tajikistan, 2009, was undertaken within the framework of a research partnership between the Ministry of Health of Tajikistan, UNICEF in Tajikistan, and the Swiss Centre for International Health of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute. Funding for the survey was provided by UNICEF (Contract number SSA/TADA/2009/00000287-1).
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Crivelli, M., Wyss, K., Grize, L. et al. Are overweight and obesity in children risk factors for anemia in early childhood? Results from a national nutrition survey in Tajikistan. Int J Public Health 63, 491–499 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-018-1088-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-018-1088-4
Keywords
- Children
- Overweight
- Obesity
- Anemia
- Tajikistan