Obesogenic behaviour and psychological distress among a nationally representative sample of in-school adolescents in Liberia

Abstract

This investigation aimed to report obesogenic behaviour (OB) and psychological distress among adolescents in Liberia. Cross-sectional nationally representative data were analysed from 2,744 adolescents (17 years median age) that participated in the “2017 Liberia Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS).” The prevalence of psychological distress was 24.5% and the total OB (range 0-5) were 0 = 1.7%, 1 = 12.7%, 2 = 43.4%, 3 = 32.8%, 4 = 8.5% and 5 = 0.9% (42.2% 3-5 OB), with a total mean of 2.35 (SD = 0.9). In adjusted logistic regression analysis, low socioeconomic status (mostly or always experiencing hunger) (Adjusted Odds Ratio-AOR: 3.38, 95% Confidence Interval-CI: 2.36-4.84) was positively and male sex (AOR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.50-0.91) was negatively associated with psychological distress. In addition, in univariate analysis, older age (≥18 years) was positively and school attendance was negatively associated with psychological distress. Multiple OB was not significantly associated with psychological distress. Moreover, in adjusted logistic regression analysis, fast food consumption (AOR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.03-1.95) was positively and soft drink consumption (AOR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.59-0.96) was negatively associated with psychological distress, while low physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and inadequate fruit and vegetable intake were not significantly associated with psychological distress. High psychological distress and moderately high OB was found, and OB was not associated with psychological.