Disparities in Risk Factors Associated with Obesity between Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland among Women of Reproductive Age Based on the 2010 TDHS

ABSTRACT

The occurrence of overweight and obesity has serious health implications. The 2010 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey

data set was reanalysed to compare the prevalences of overweight and obesity between Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar and to

determine how demographic factors can predict overweight and obesity across the United Republic of Tanzania. About 7.92% of

the Tanzanian women of reproductive age were obese, 15% were overweight, and 11.5% were underweight.Women fromMainland

Tanzania (6.56%) were significantly less likely (AOR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.53–0.82) to be affected by obesity as compared to women

from Zanzibar (12.19%).The common predictors of obesity in Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar were wealth index, marital status,

and age.Whereas the place of residence and education level emerged as predictors of obesity in the Mainland Tanzania alone, the

number of meals per day did so in Zanzibar.Most importantly, Zanzibar had a greater prevalence of obesity compared toMainland

Tanzania.

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