Trends in adolescent obesity in Samoa: analysis of the Global School-based Student Health Survey 2011 and 2017
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Keywords
Adolescent obesity, Samoa, BMI trends, Soft drink consumption, Gender disparities, Nutrition transition
Abstract
Background: Adolescent obesity is a growing public health concern in the Pacific, where some of the highest global prevalence rates have been reported. In Samoa, limited peer-reviewed research has examined population-level adolescent obesity trends and associated dietary factors.
Objective: To assess trends in body mass index (BMI) categories among Samoan adolescents between 2011 and 2017 and to examine the association between soft drink consumption and obesity.
Methods: We analyzed nationally representative data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) conducted in Samoa in 2011 and 2017. Adolescents aged 13–17 years with valid self-reported height and weight were included. BMI categories (underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese) were defined using WHO reference standards. Prevalence estimates were compared by survey year, sex, and age group. Logistic regression models were used to assess predictors of obesity, adjusting for survey year, sex, and soft drink consumption frequency.
Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased from 31.6% in 2011 to 48.0% in 2017. Obesity nearly doubled (10.3% to 19.4%), while the proportion of normal weight adolescents declined from 61.9% to 48.4%. Female students consistently had higher rates of overweight and obesity than males. Obesity prevalence increased with age, particularly in 2017. In adjusted models, adolescents surveyed in 2017 had higher odds of obesity (OR = 2.84, 95% CI: 2.44–3.32) and females were more likely to be obese than males (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.58–2.17). Soft drink consumption showed a dose–response relationship, with those consuming four or more times per day having more than twice the odds of obesity compared to non-consumers (OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.40–3.25).
Conclusion: Adolescent obesity in Samoa has increased markedly between 2011 and 2017, with higher prevalence among females, older adolescents, and frequent soft drink consumers. These findings underscore the urgent need for policies and school-based interventions to address dietary behaviors and reduce obesity in the Pacific.
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Eleasaro
Lecture at Faculty of Science, in the National University of Samoa