Prevalence and Factors Associated with Overweight and Obesity among Adolescents in Schools in Benin in 2016

Introduction Overweight and obesity are considered to be global public health concerns. The objective was to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity and the associated factors. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2016 and involving 3968 adolescents of 10 to 19 years from 40 secondary schools in Benin. Participants were selected using a 2-level random sampling technique. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and were analyzed using Epi Info and Stata softwares. Associated factors were investigated by a logistic regression. Results Mean age was 16.54 ± 0.04 years and sex ratio was 1.16. The prevalence of overweight was 8.1% and that of obesity was 1.6%. Associated risk factors were female gender, sedentary lifestyle, consumption of sugary and carbonated beverages. Consumption of fruits and vegetables, regular physical activity, age over than 15 years were protective factors. Conclusion Overweight and obesity among school adolescents are increasing in Benin. The establishment of a school nutrition program and the promotion of regular physical activity should contribute to reducing their prevalence.