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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Nutritional status of Tunisian adolescents: Associated gender, environmental and socio-economic factors
Public Health Nutrition, Volume 11, No. 12, Year 2008
Notification
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Description
Objective: To assess the nutritional status of Tunisian adolescents and associated factors. Design: A cross-sectional study based on a national stratified random cluster sample. Subjects and methods: In all, 1295 boys and 1577 girls aged 15-19 years, of whom 28.4 % had already left school. Socio-economic characteristics of the parents, anthropometric measurements, food behaviours and physical activity of the adolescents were recorded during home visits. Results: Prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity (WHO/National Center for Health Statistics reference) were, respectively, 8.1 %, 17.4 % and 4.1 % among boys and 1.3 %, 20.7 % and 4.4 % among girls; abdominal obesity was highly prevalent among both sexes. Prevalence of overweight differed by region (from 11.5 % to 22.2 %) and was higher in urban v. rural areas for males (21.7 % v. 10.4 %) but not for females (21.7 % v. 19.2 %). These differences were partially mediated by socio-economic and lifestyle factors for males. For females, influence of cultural factors is hypothesised. In rural areas, overweight was more prevalent among boys of higher economic level households, having a working mother or a sedentary lifestyle; for girls, prevalence increased with the level of education of the mother. In urban areas, prevalence of overweight was related to eating habits: it was higher for boys with irregular snacking habits and for girls skipping daily meals. Urban girls having left school were also more overweight. Conclusion: Overweight and abdominal obesity in late adolescence have become a true public health problem in Tunisia with the combined effects of cultural tradition for girls in rural areas, and of rapid economic development for boys and girls in cities. © The Authors 2008.
Authors & Co-Authors
Aounallah-Skhiri, Hajer
Tunisia, Tunis
Institut National de Santé Publique
France, Paris
Sorbonne Université
Ben Romdhane, Habiba
Tunisia, Tunis
Institut National de Santé Publique
Traissac, Pierre
France, Montpellier
Ird Centre de Montpellier
Eymard-Duvernay, Sabrina
France, Montpellier
Ird Centre de Montpellier
Delpeuch, Francis
France, Montpellier
Ird Centre de Montpellier
Achour, Nourredinne
Tunisia, Tunis
Institut National de Santé Publique
Maire, Bernard
France, Montpellier
Ird Centre de Montpellier
Statistics
Citations: 74
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1017/S1368980008002693
e-ISSN:
14752727
Research Areas
Food Security
Noncommunicable Diseases
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Tunisia
Participants Gender
Male
Female