Increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in Bangladeshi women of reproductive age: Findings from 2004 to 2014

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity are a particular concern for women of reproductive age. They not only increase the risk of chronic diseases but they are also associated with adverse perinatal, neonatal, infant and child outcomes. The objective of this study was to examine the trend of overweight and obesity among Bangladeshi women of reproductive age between 2004 and 2014. METHOD: This is a secondary data analysis of the 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2014 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (BDHS). We determined the age standardized prevalence of overweight and obesity of women aged 15-49 years, who had their weight and height measured. Overweight and obesity were determined using the Asian specific BMI cut-offs criteria. RESULT: The prevalence of overweight increased from…