Prevalence and Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Overweight and Obesity Among Adults in Colombia: A Pooled Analysis

Abstract

Given the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults in Colombia, estimating the effect of sociodemographic factors on overweight and obesity is crucial for creating and implementing public health policies. A pooled analysis was performed using a multinomial logistic regression model through Colombian Nutritional Situation Surveys held in 2010 and 2015. The study included Colombian adults between 18 and 64 years old (n = 162,119). Overall, the prevalence of obesity increased from 16.47 percent in 2010 to 18.67 percent in 2015, being higher in women than in men in both surveys. Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that the most critical factor of being overweight and obese were older age, having a higher level of education, being engaged in household activities, and living in regions other than the country's capital. Additionally, for obesity, belonging to the Afro Colombian racial-ethnic group and being a woman were associated with an increased probability. In conclusion, these results provide more information on the sociodemographic factors related to overweight and obesity, which will help focus public health policies on higher-risk populations, such as racial-ethnic communities.