Individual and community-level determinants of overweight and obesity among urban men: Further analysis of the Ethiopian demographic and health survey

Abstract

Background: Overweight and obesity have become a serious public health problem in both developed and developing countries, particularly in urban areas. However, there are limited studies conducted to identify the risk factors of overweight and obesity in Ethiopia, especially among men. Therefore, this study aimed to assess individual and community level determinants of overweight and obesity among urban men in Ethiopia.

Methods: This study used the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data. A weighted sample of 2259 urban men aged 15-59 years were included in this analysis. A multilevel logistic regression model was used to assess the determinants of overweight and obesity among the study participants.

Results: Men aged 30-44 years old (AOR = 3.1, 95% CI: 2.3-4.11), 45-59 years old (AOR = 4.8, 95% CI: 3.4-6.9), married (AOR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.3-2.2), with secondary education (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.6-4.7), with higher education (AOR = 3.6, 95% CI: 2.1-6.2), watching television at least once a week (AOR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1-2.7), being from high rich communities (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.5-3.7), and living in three metropolises (Addis Ababa, Harari, Diredawa) were more likely to be overweight or obese (AOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1-2.9). However, currently unemployed men were less likely to be overweight or obese (AOR = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-0.7).

Conclusion: Being older age, being married, having higher educational status, having higher frequency of watching television, being residents of three metropolises (Addis Ababa, Harari, and Diredawa), and being from high rich communities were found to be predictors of overweight and obesity in Ethiopian men. Therefore, it is essential to design strategies and programs to reduce or prevent overweight and obesity with special focus on the identified risk factors.