Double burden of malnutrition in two Nigerian states

Background: Double burden of malnutrition (DBM) is the co-existence of overweight/obesity and undernutrition. Rising prevalence rates of childhood overweight/obesity in Nigeria have been reported, whilst undernutrition continues to be prevalent. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and distribution of underweight, stunting, thinness, overweight/obesity, and the DBM among school-aged children and adolescents in Gombe and Osun States in Nigeria.

Methods: This was a community-based cross-sectional study carried out in Osun and Gombe States in 2019 – 2020. A total of 1,200 children aged 6 – 19 years were recruited using multi-stage sampling technique. Weight, height and data on demographic, socio-economic, household/family characteristics of the children were collected using structured interviewer administered questionnaires. Nutritional status was calculated using the WHO 2007 reference values using BMI-for-age (thinness, overweight/obesity), height-for-age (stunting) and weight-...