Overweight among Indonesian Adolescents – Which group is more likely to be overweight?

The prevalence of overweight among young people has continued to increase over the past years in developing countries, such as Indonesia. In Indonesia, people with a higher SEP (Status-Economic Position) have easier access to junk food or calorie-dense foods, which may explain the higher overweight rates, particularly in these groups.

While prior studies have predominantly focused on children or adults, this research explores the eating habits of early adolescents. Which groups of adolescents are more prone to develop overweight: Males or females? Populations of urban or suburban areas? Adolescents with original Indonesian or Indonesian-Chinese ethnicity? Adolescents with more or less pocket money? Adolescents with or without prior diet experiences? You can read more about the results in this sci-fly.   Core This study was part of a longitudinal study on adolescents’ weight-related behaviour in Indonesia conducted by Sarintohe, Larsen, and Vink. Our findings showed that the general prevalence rate of overweight in this adolescent sample at private schools was relatively high. The high prevalence in our sample could give insight for further research on demographic factors that correlate with overweight. This study, which examines (sex-specific) demographic correlates of overweight status among early adolescents from private schools in Indonesia, filled an important gap in the current literature. We suggest that this early adolescent phase is a promising period for timely preventive interventions, given that adolescent overweight and obesity in Indonesia are increasing more rapidly in older compared to younger adolescents. Our findings showed (sex-specific) demographic correlates of overweight status in this higher SEP group of adolescents that may have important implications for future research and later preventive interventions.   Research Methods What? This study examined (sex-specific) correlates of overweight status in a large sample of early adolescents from private schools. Who? The participants of this study were 411 grade 7^th students (Age: 11-14 years old) from five private schools in Indonesia. How?

• Anthropometric measurement of weight and height.
• Demographic measurement (i.e., sex, school area, pocket money, ethnicity) and previous diet

  Findings

• Boys were three times more likely to be overweight compared to girls.
• Adolescents from urban school areas were two times more likely to be overweight compared to those from suburban school areas.
• Adolescents reporting dieting were four times more likely to be overweight compared to their non-dieting counterparts.
• Ethnicity and pocket money were not statistically significant.

  Details Sarintohe E, Larsen JK, Burk WJ, Vink JM. The Prevalence of Overweight Status among Early Adolescents from Private Schools in Indonesia: Sex-Specific Patterns Determined by School Urbanization Level. Nutrients, 2022; 14: 1-9. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14051001   This sci-fly has been written by Eveline Sarintohe (Radboud University) for RAD-Blog, the blog about smoking, alcohol, drugs, and diet.