Journal of Nutritional Disorders & Therapy

Unhealthy weight control practice among female high school adolescents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

15^th International Conference on Clinical Nutrition

May 24-26, 2018 | Vienna, Austria

Tigest Ajeme Tuffa, Bilal Shikur Endris, Seifu Hagos Gebreyesus, Yalemwork Getnet and Dawit Shawel Abebe

Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Oslo and Akershus University College, Norway

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Nutr Disorders Ther

Abstract:

Unhealthy weight control practices are a serious public health concern with clinical implication as a potential risk factor for eating disorder. Although recent epidemiological studies indicate a high prevalence of unhealthy weight control practices in developing countries, there is lack of such evidence in Ethiopia. This is the first Ethiopian study aimed to determine the magnitude of unhealthy weight control practice among female high school adolescents in Addis Ababa. We conducted a school based cross-sectional study among randomly selected 721 adolescents in private and government schools. We used a nine item question to measure engagement in unhealthy weight control practice. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with unhealthy weight control practice. The magnitude of engagement in unhealthy weight control practice at least once a week in the last one month was 232 (33.8%). The prevalence of purging and non-purging behavior was 10 (1.5%) and 222 (32.4%), respectively. Factors that were significantly associated with unhealthy weight control practice were perceived overweight [AOR = 2.88, 95% CI = 1.08�??7.69], being overweight [AOR = 2.84; 95% CI =1.31�??6.17], severe depression [AOR = 1.98; 95% CI = 1.17-3.35], family influence on adolescents [AOR = 1.59; 95% CI = 1.03�??2.45] and being wealthy [AOR = 2.09; 95% CI = 1.24-3.52]. This study revealed a high prevalence of unhealthy weight control practices among female adolescents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Researchers and programmers should pay attention to this hidden public health problem and come up with an effective intervention strategy to mitigate unhealthy weight control practice among adolescent girls. tgabysinia@gmail.com