Obesogenic behaviour is associated with psychological distress among a nationally representative sample of in-school adolescents in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This investigation aimed to report obesogenic behaviour (OB) and psychological distress among adolescents in Sri Lanka. Cross-sectional nationally representative data were analysed from 3,262 adolescents (15 years median age) that participated in the “2016 Sri Lanka Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS).” The prevalence of psychological distress was, and the total OB were 0 = 1.9%, 1 = 12.4%, 2 = 44.3%, 3 = 31.8%, 4 = 8.4% and 5 = 1.1% (40.3% 3-5 OB), with a total mean of 2.36 (SD = 0.9). In adjusted logistic regression analysis, OB (Adjusted Odds Ratio-AOR: 1.20, 95% Confidence Interval-CI: 1.02-1.40) and low socioeconomic status (mosty or always feeling hungry) (AOR: 2.98, 95% CI: 1.85-4.81) were positively, and school attendance (AOR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.60-0.96) and high parental support (AOR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.27-0.44) were negatively associated with psychological distress. OB was associated with psychological distress calling for interventions targeting multiple OB to reduce psychological distress.