Level of overweight and obesity surpassed underweight among women in 40 low and middle-income countries: Findings from a multilevel multinomial analysis of population survey data

Over a quarter of women of reproductive age in LMICs were overweight or obese, with underweight affecting 15.6%. It was also found that the levels of overweight and obesity were higher than the rate for underweight, with wide variations across the countries. Thus, efforts to improve the modifiable risks can have a positive impact on reducing undernutrition and over-nutrition. Given the considerable variations between countries and survey periods, nutrition programs should also be tailored to the specific needs and cultural contexts of different regions within the study settings. Furthermore, the findings suggest the need for regular monitoring and evaluation of the existing nutritional interventions to assess their effectiveness.