Background and Aims
Many low- and middle-income countries are undergoing epidemiological and health
transitions. South Africa has one of the highest prevalences of overweight and obesity in
Sub-Saharan Africa. This research examined neighbourhood and household socio-economic
influences on the risk of overweight and obesity in terms of anthropometric status and
dietary intake among urban South African adolescents. A further aim was to conduct a
qualitative study on the potential for religious groups such as Churches to be used as
community-based organisations for obesity intervention.
Methods
A secondary analysis of neighbourhood and household socio-economic status (SES),
anthropometric and dietary data was carried out on adolescents aged 17-19 years from the
Birth to Twenty Plus cohort study in Johannesburg-Soweto. Qualitative data were collected
through focus groups discussions and a community readiness survey with church leaders.