Prevalence and risk factors for overweight and obesity: a cross-sectional countrywide study in Burkina Faso

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of overweight and obesity in Burkina Faso using a population-based countrywide sample. We hypothesise that there is a significant burden related to overweight/obesity in Burkina Faso. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a population-based countrywide cross-sectional study. SETTING: Burkina Faso, all the 13 regions including both rural and urban residential areas. PARTICIPANTS: 4800 participants of both sexes, aged between 25 and 64 years. MAIN OUTCOMES: Overweight and obesity using body mass index cut-off levels of the WHO. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Burkina Faso were 13.82% (95% CI: 12.25 to 15.55) and 4.84% (95% CI: 3.99 to 5.86), respectively. Among men, the proportional odds of overweight/obesity increase with urban residency (p<0.001), greater age (p<0.002), marital status different from single (p≤0.007) and decrease with current smoking (p=0.009). Among women, the proportional odds of overweight/obesity increase with urban residency (p<0.001), primary educational level (p=0.01), high total blood cholesterol level (p<0.001) and high fasting blood glucose level (p=0.02), and decrease with current smoking (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that nearly one person out of five in the adult population of Burkina has an abnormal weight status with women being more affected than men. Urban residency is a consistent risk factor in both men and women. Alcohol consumption and education were associated with an increased odds in only women. Overnutrition needs to be recognised as an important public health issue in Burkina Faso and nutrition interventions need to be reshaped to account for it.