Prevalence and Predictors of Overweight and Obesity among Somalis in Norway and Somaliland: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Background and Aim: (e knowledge about the health status of Somalis in Norway and Somaliland is limited. (is paper reportsthe results of a comparative study on the prevalence and predictors of overweight/obesity among Somalis in Norway andSomaliland. Method: We conducted two cross-sectional studies using the same tools and procedures, between 2015 and 2016. (estudy population was adults aged 20–69 years (n�1110 (Somaliland) andn�220 (Norway)). Results: (e prevalence of obesity(body mass index (BMI)≥30 kg/m2) was 44% and 31% in women in Norway and Somaliland, respectively. In contrast, theprevalence of obesity was low in men (9% in Norway; 6% in Somaliland). Although the prevalence of high BMI was higher inSomali women in Norway than women in Somaliland, both groups had the same prevalence of central obesity (waist cir-cumference (WC)≥88 cm). In men, the prevalence of central obesity (WC≥102 cm) was lower in Somaliland than in Norway. Forwomen in Somaliland, high BMI was associated with lower educational level and being married. Conclusion: (e prevalence ofoverweight and obesity is high among Somali immigrants in Norway, but also among women in Somaliland. (e high prevalenceof overweight and obesity, particularly among women, calls for long-term prevention strategies.