The burden of underweight and overweight among women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (BMC Public Health)

Background: Obesity and overweight are rising worldwide while underweight rates persist in low-income countries. The aim of this study was to examine changes in the prevalence of underweight and overweight/obesity among non-pregnant women aged 15-49 years, and its socio-demographic correlates in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: The data are from 2000, 2005 and 2011 nationally representative Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys in Addis Ababa. The dependent variable was women`s nutritional status measured in terms of body mass index coded in binary outcomes to examine risk of being underweight (=18.5 kg/m2) or overweight/obese (>25 kg/m2 vs.