The Double Burden of Overweight and/or Obesity and Anemia in Zimbabwean Women

Background: The double burden of malnutrition is a major crisis in many low-middle-income countries. Purpose: To assess the magnitude of the double burden of overweight and/or obesity and anemia in Zimbabwean women and determine the unique traits of the double burden from those of overweight only, obesity only, combined overweight and obesity, and anemia only. Methods: The standard 2010-11 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) was used as the source of data for this study. Only 7,439 women were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using the SAS Institute, release 9.3.Statistical significance was set at 0.05 for all analyses, and the results were expressed as estimates of 95% CIs. The data was weighted, and the analyses accounted for the complex sampling design. Descriptive statistics were obtained. Chi Square Test was performed to analyze differences in each variable by overweight and/or obesity and anemia. A Binomial Logistics Regression was performed to determine associations between sociodemographic factors and the multiple nutritional conditions. Logistics Regression was also performed to determine the prediction of the multiple nutritional conditions by sociodemographic factors. Results: The prevalence of the double burden ranged from 2.3% to 7.5%. Anemia was dependent on overweight and/or obesity. Overweight and/or obesity and anemia were associated with more sociodemographic factors compared to the double burden. Conclusion: The prevalence of the double burden was low. Additionally, the women with the double burden had a different profile compared to that of women with overweight only, obesity only, combined overweight and obesity, and anemia only