Table 2 Characteristics and findings of the included studies
| Â | Author & date | Study design | Country | Setting | Sample size | Age range (years) | Gender | Outcome reported | Prevalence of overweight | Prevalence of obesity | Criteria for assessment of body composition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Armstrong et al., 2011 [63] | Cross sectional | South Africa | Rural, urban | 24,391 | 8–11 | Male, female | Prevalence, trend | 13.0% | 3.3% | IOTF |
2 | Armstrong et al., 2017 [64] | Cross-sectional | South Africa | Rural, urban | 10,285 | 6–13 | Male, female | prevalence | 15.4% | IOTF | |
3 | Baumgartner et al., 2013 [138] | Placebo-controlled, double-blind intervention trial. | South Africa | Rural, urban | 321 | 6–11 | Male, female | Prevalence | 28% | WHO | |
4 | Craig et al., 2013 [65] | Cross-sectional | South Africa | Rural | 1519 | 7–15 | Male, female | Prevalence | 9.2, 8.1, and 8.0% in males compared to 13.6, 13.4, and 25.8% in females aged 7, 11, and 15 years respectively using WHO 2007 reference criteria 9.2, 8.1, and 8.0% in males compared to 13.6, 13.4, and 25.8% in females aged 7, 11, and 15 years respectively using Cole et al. and IOFT | WHO IOTF NCHS/WHO | |
5 | Feeley et al., 2013 [134] | Longitudinal | South Africa | Urban | 1298 | 13–17 | Male, female | Prevalence, trend | 8.1% (Males) and 27.0% (Females) | WHO | |
6 | Ginsburg et al., 2013 [135] | Longitudinal | South Africa | Urban | 1613 | 15 | Male, female | Prevalence | 8.0%(Males) and 25.0% (Females) | IOTF | |
7 | Kimani-Murage et al., 2010 [115] | Cross-sectional | South Africa | Rural | 3511 | 1–20 | Male female | Prevalence | 18% in females compared to 4% in males | IOTF | |
8 | Kimani-Murage et al., 2011 [66] | Cross-sectional | South Africa | Rural | 1848 | 10–20 | Male, female | Prevalence | 4% Boys) and 15% (Girls) | IOTF | |
9 | Kruger et al., 2011 [112] | Cross-sectional | South Africa | Rural, urban | 2157 | 1–9 | Male, female | Prevalence, trend | 10% | 4% | WHO |
10 | Lesiapeto et al., 2016 [126] | Secondary analysis | South Africa | Rural | 2485 | Under 5 | Male, female | Prevalence | 16.1% | WHO | |
11 | Lundeen et al., 2015 [127] | Secondary analysis | South Africa | Urban | 1172 | 1–18 | Male, female | Prevalence, incidence, trend | Boys = 19.1, 16.4, 9.9, 7.8, 5.7% and Girls = 19.1, 12.2, 14.7, 17.8, and 19.1% at 1–2, 4–8, 11–12, 13–15, and 16–18 years respectively. | Boys = 8.8, 3.0, 6.0, 4.4%, 2.5 and Girls = 8.1, 3.1, 6.4, 7.3, and 7.9% at 1–2, 4–8, 11–12, 13–15, and 16–18 years respectively. | WHO |
12 | Meko et al., 2015 [116] | Cross-sectional | South Africa | Urban | 415 | 13–15 | Male, female | Prevalence | 6% | WHO | |
13 | Mokabane et al., 2014 [139] | Case study | South Africa | Peri-urban | 56 | 13–19 | Female | Prevalence | 12.5% | 3.6% | BMI |
14 | Moselakgomo et al., 2017 [117] | Cross-sectional | South Africa | Rural | 1361 | 9–13 | Male, female | Prevalence | Boys = 9.9% (CDC classification) and 2.6% (IOTF criteria) Girls = 10.4% (CDC classification) and 1.0% (IOTF criteria) | Boys = 5.46% (CDC classification) and 0.7% (IOTF criteria) Girls = 5.3% (CDC classification) and 0.6% (IOTF criteria) | CDC IOTF |
15 | Munthali et al., 2016 [136] | Longitudinal | South Africa | Urban | 1824 | 5–18 | Male, female | Prevalence | Girls = late onset overweight (15%) Boys = early onset overweight to normal (6%) | Girls = early onset obesity to overweight (4.8%) Boys = early onset overweight to obese (1.3%) | IOTF |
16 | Negash et al., 2017 [68] | Cross-sectional | South Africa | Urban | 1559 | 7–18 | Male, female | Prevalence | 22.9% | IOTF | |
17 | Ngwenya et al., 2017 [67] | Cross-sectional | South Africa | Urban | 175 | 13–19 | Male, female | Prevalence | 15.4% | 8.6% | BMI |
18 | Pienaar, 2015 [15] | Longitudinal | South Africa | Rural, urban | 574 | 6–9 | Male, female | Prevalence, Trend | Did not report this | 16.7% | IOTF |
19 | Pretorius et al., 2019 [69] | Cross-sectional | South Africa | Rural, urban | 1785 | 6–12 | Male, female | Prevalence | 27.3% | WHO | |
20 | Reddy et al., 2012 [113] | Cross-sectional | South Africa | Rural, urban | 4010 | Mean = 16.5 | Male, female | Prevalence, Trend | Males = rates increased from 6.3% in 2002 to 11.0% in 2008. Females = rates increased from 24.3% in 2002 to 29.0% in 2008 | Males = rates doubled 1.6% in 2002 to 3.3% in 2008 Females = rose from 5.0 to 7.5% | IOTF |
21 | Sedibe et al., 2018 [118] | Cross-sectional | South Africa | Rural, urban | 3490 | 11–15 | Male, female | Prevalence | More females overweight and obese at both early and mid-adolescents compared to boys. Early adolescents = (rural: 17.34% vs. 9.52%; urban: 36.15% vs. 27.89%), and mid-adolescents = (rural 22.33% vs. 5.50%; urban: 28.5% vs. 12.82%) | WHO | |
22 | Steyn et al., 2011 [129] | Secondary analysis | South Africa | Rural, urban | 2469 | 1–9 | Male, female | Prevalence | 24% of children among obese younger mothers | WHO IOTF | |
23 | Symington et al., 2016 [130] | Secondary analysis | South Africa | Rural, urban | 519 | 3–9 | Male, female | Prevalence | 12.0% | WHO IOTF | |
24 | Tathiah et al., 2013 [131] | Secondary analysis | South Africa | Rural | 963 | 7–14 | Female | Prevalence | 9% | 3.8% | IOTF |
25 | Zeelie et al., 2010 [119] | Cross-sectional | South Africa | Rural, Urban | 232 | 5–19 | Male, female | Prevalence | 4.1% of the boys and 9.9% of the girls had a BMI above the cut-off points | IOTF | |
26 | Adegoke et al., 2009 [70] | Cross-sectional | Nigeria | Semi-urban | 720 | 6–18 | Male, female | Prevalence | 2.8% | 0.3% | IOTF |
27 | Adesina et al., 2012 [76] | Cross-sectional | Nigeria | Urban | 960 | 10–19 | Male, female | Prevalence | 6.3% | 1.8% | BMI |
28 | Akodu et al., 2012 [120] | Cross-sectional | Nigeria | Urban | 160 | 2–15 | Male, female | Prevalence | Did not report on this | Hemoglobin genotype SS subjects = 2.5%, and hemoglobin genotype AA controls =3.8% | WHO |
29 | Ene-Obong et al., 2012 [121] | Cross-sectional | Nigeria | Urban | 1599 | 5–18 | Male, female | Prevalence | 11.4% | 2.8% | IOTF |
30 | Fetuga et al., 2011 [74] | Cross-sectional | Nigeria | Semi-urban | 1690 | 6–16 | Male, female | Prevalence | 3.0% | Did not report on this | CDC WHO |
31 | Fetuga et al., 2011 [75] | Cross-sectional | Nigeria | Semi-urban | 1016 | 6–10 | Male, female | Prevalence | Did not report on this | 0.5% | WHO |
32 | Maruf et al., 2013 [79] | Cross-sectional | Nigeria | Urban | 9014 | 2–18 | Male, female | Prevalence | 6.1% | 0.8% | IOTF |
33 | Musa et al., 2012 [78] | Cross-sectional | Nigeria | Rural, urban | 3240 | 9–16 | Male, female | Prevalence | 9.7% | 1.8% | IOTF |
34 | Nwaiwu et al., 2015 [122] | Cross-sectional | Nigeria | Not specified | 406 | 2–15 | Male, female | Prevalence | 15.4% | Did report this | IOTF |
35 | Oduwole et al., 2012 [123] | Cross-sectional | Nigeria | Urban | 885 | 9–18 | Male, female | Prevalence | 13.8% | 9.4% | CDC |
36 | Okagua et al., 2016 [81] | Cross-sectional | Nigeria | Urban | 2282 | 10–19 | Male, female | Prevalence | 14.6% (Females) 11.4% (Males) | 5.2% (Females) 3.8%(Males) | WHO |
37 | Omisore et al., 2015 [80] | Cross-sectional | Nigeria | Not specified | 1000 | 10–19 | Male, female | Prevalence | 10.2% (Males) 5.3% (Females) | 3.9% (Males) 2.0% (Females) | IOTF |
38 | Omuemu et al., 2010 [71] | Cross-sectional | Nigeria | Urban | 300 | 10–19 | Male, female | Prevalence | 5.7% | CDC | |
39 | Opara et al., 2010 [72] | Cross-sectional | Nigeria | Rural, urban | 985 | 2.5–14 | Male, female | Prevalence | 11.1 and 0.2% respectively in private and public schools | WHO | |
40 | Senbanjo et al., 2010 [73] | Cross-sectional | Nigeria | Urban | 570 | 5–19 | Male, female | Prevalence | 1.9% | WHO | |
41 | Senbanjo et al., 2011 [114] | Cross-sectional | Nigeria | Urban | 570 | 5–19 | Male, female | Trend | Did not report on this | 5.0% general obesity | WHO |
42 | Senbanjo et al., 2012 [77] | Cross-sectional | Nigeria | Urban | 423 | 10–19 | Male, female | Prevalence | Did not report on this | 24.5% central obesity | WHO |
43 | Uwaezuoke et al., 2016 [124] | Cross-sectional | Nigeria | Urban | 2419 | 10–19 | Male, female | Prevalence | Did not report this | Twelve of 41 obese males (29.3%) and 30 of 96 obese females (31.3%) | BMI |
44 | Mekonnen et al., 2018 [82] | Cross-sectional | Ethiopia | Rural, urban | 634 | 6–12 | Male, female | Prevalence | 8.8% | 3.1% | WHO |
45 | Moges et al., 2018 [83] | Cross-sectional | Ethiopia | Urban | 1276 | 10–19 | Male, female | Prevalence | 17.0% | WHO | |
46 | Sorrie et al., 2017 [84] | Cross-sectional | Ethiopia | Urban | 504 | 3–5 | Male, female | Prevalence | 13.8% | WHO | |
47 | Tadesse et al., 2017 [85] | Cross-sectional | Ethiopia | Urban | 462 | 3–6 | Male, female | Prevalence | 6.9% | WHO | |
48 | Teshome et al., 2013 [87] | Cross-sectional | Ethiopia | Urban | 559 | 10–19 | Male, female | Prevalence | 12.9% | 2.7% | WHO |
49 | Wakayo et al., 2016 [86] | Cross-sectional | Ethiopia | Rural, urban | 174 | 11–18 | Male, female | Prevalence | 10.3% | WHO | |
50 | Pangani et al., 2016 [24] | Cross-sectional | Tanzania | Urban | 1781 | 8–13 | Male, female | Prevalence | 15.9% | 6.7% | WHO |
51 | Mosha et al., 2010 [88] | Cross-sectional | Tanzania | Urban | 428 | 6–12 | Male, female | Prevalence | Did not report on this | 5.6% in Dodoma compared to 6.3% in Kinondoni municipalities | BMI |
52 | Muhihi et al., 2013 [16] | Cross-sectional | Tanzania | Rural, urban | 446 | 6–17 | Male, female | Prevalence | Did not report on this | Overall, 5.2% (6.3% in girls and 3.8% in boys) | IOTF |
53 | Mushengezi et al., 2014 [125] | Cross-sectional | Tanzania | Urban | 582 | 12–19 | Male, female | Prevalence | 22.2% | WHO | |
54 | Mwaikambo et al., 2015 [89] | Cross-sectional | Tanzania | Urban | 1722 | 7–14 | Male, female | Prevalence | 10.2% | 4.5% | IOTF |
55 | Adamo et al., 2011 [62] | Cross-sectional | Kenya | Rural, urban | 179 | 9–13 | Male, female | Prevalence | 6.8% of boys and 16.7% of girls in urban Kenya | BMI | |
56 | Gewa, 2010 [137] | DHS | Kenya | Rural, urban | 1495 | 3–5 | Male, female | Prevalence | 18.0% | 4.0% | WHO |
57 | Kimani-Murage et al., 2015 [90] | Cross-sectional | Kenya | Urban | 3335 | Under 5 | Male, female | Prevalence | 8.8% | WHO | |
58 | Wachira et al., 2018 [91] | Cross-sectional | Kenya | Urban | 563 | 9–11 | Male, female | Prevalence | 20.8% | WHO | |
59 | Choukem et al., 2017 [93] | Cross-sectional | Cameroon | Urban | 1343 | 3–13 | Male, female | Prevalence | 12.5% (13.2% in girls and 11.8% in boys) | WHO | |
60 | Navti et al., 2014 [94] | Cross-sectional | Cameroon | Rural, urban | 557 | 5–12 | Male, female | Prevalence | 17.0 and 17.8% in girls and boys respectively | WHO | |
61 | Tchoubi et al., 2015 [132] | Secondary analysis | Cameroon | Rural, urban | 4518 | <  5 | Male, female | Prevalence | 8.0% | WHO | |
62 | Wamba et al., 2013 [92] | Cross-sectional | Cameroon | Urban | 2689 | 8–15 | Male, female | Prevalence | Ranged from 6.4 to 8.2% in boys and from 10.7 to 17.2% in girls | Ranged from 1.4 to 5.5% in boys and from 2.4 to 8.6% in girls | IOTF WHO CDC BMI database |
63 | Adom et al., 2019 [96] | Cross-sectional | Ghana | Urban | 543 | 8–11 | Male, female | Prevalence | 16.4% | WHO | |
64 | Kumah et al., 2015 [97] | Cross-sectional | Ghana | Urban | 500 | 10–20 | Male, female | Prevalence | 12.2% | 0.8% | IOTF |
65 | Mohammed et al., 2012 [95] | Cross-sectional | Ghana | Urban | 270 | 5–15 | Male, female | Prevalence | Did not report on this | 10.9% (Girls = 15.0%, Boys = 7.2%) | WHO |
66 | Dos Santos et al., 2014 [98] | Cross-sectional | Mozambique | Urban, suburban | 3374 | 8–15 | Male, female | Prevalence, Trend | 5.0% (Boys) 11.2% (Girls) | 6.0% (Boys) 9.1% (Girls) | WHO |
67 | Dos Santos et al., 2015 [99] | Cross-sectional | Mozambique | Urban, suburban | 323 | 10–15 | Male, female | Prevalence | 7.5% (Boys) 21.0% (Girls) | IOTF | |
68 | Nagwa et al., 2011 [100] | Cross-sectional | Sudan | Urban | 1138 | 10–18 | Male, female | Prevalence | 10.8% | 9.7% | WHO |
69 | Salman et al., 2011 [101] | Cross-sectional | Sudan | Urban | 304 | 6–12 | Male, female | Prevalence | 14.8% | 10.5% | CDC |
70 | Christoph et al., 2017 [102] | Cross-sectional | Uganda | Rural, urban | 148 | 11–16 | Male, female | Prevalence | 1.4% | WHO | |
71 | Turi et al., 2013 [133] | Secondary analysis | Uganda | Rural, urban | 1099 | <  5 | Male, female | Prevalence | 13.5% | WHO | |
72 | Wrotniak et al., 2012 [103] | Cross-sectional | Botswana | Rural, urban | 707 | 12–18 | Male, female | Prevalence | 12.3% | 5.0% | WHO |
73 | Juwara et al., 2016 [104] | Cross-sectional | Gambia | Urban | 960 | 13–15 | Male, female | Prevalence | 22.8% in private schools and 4.5% in public schools | WHO | |
74 | Van den Berg et al., 2014 [105] | Cross-sectional | Lesotho | Urban | 221 | 16 | Male, female | Prevalence | 8.3% of boys and 27.2% of girls | WHO CDC IOTF | |
75 | Caleyachetty et al., 2012 [106] | Cross-sectional | Mauritius | Rural, urban | 241 | 9–10 | Male, female | Prevalence | 15.8% in boys and 18.9% in girls | 4.9% in boys and 5.1% in girls | IOTF |
76 | Bovet et al., 2010 [107] | Cross-sectional | Seychelles | Rural, urban | 8462 | Mean ages; 9.2, 12.6 and 15.3 years | Male, female | Prevalence | 37% of boys in private schools compared to 15% in public schools 33% of girls in private compared to 20% of those in public schools | IOTF | |
77 | Sagbo et al., 2018 [108] | Cross-sectional | Togo | Urban | 634 | 8–17 | Male, female | Prevalence | 5.2% | 1.9% | IOTF |
78 | Kambondo et al., 2018 [109] | Cross-sectional | Zimbabwe | Rural, urban | 974 | 6–12 | Male, female | Prevalence | Did not report on this | 13.8% in urban compared to 2.3% in rural areas | IOTF |
79 | Muthuri et al., 2016 [110] | Cross-sectional | Kenya, South Africa | Rural, urban | 4725 | 9–11 | Male, female | Prevalence | 18.8 and 30.6% in Kenya and South Africa respectively | Did not report on this | WHO |
80 | Peltzer et al., 2011 [128] | Secondary analysis | Ghana, Uganda | Not specified | 5613 | 13–15 | Male, female | Prevalence | 10.4% (Girls) and 3.2% (Boys) | 0.9% (Girls) and 0.5% (Boys) | IOTF |
81 | Manyanga et al., 2014 [111] | Cross-sectional | Benin, Ghana, Mauritania and Malawi | Not specified | 23,496 | 11–17 | Male, female | Prevalence | 8.7% in Ghana, 10.0% in Malawi, 11.2% in Benin, and 24.3% in Mauritania | WHO | |