Nutritional status of the women studied
Our results show that 61.6% of women are overweight, 17.9% of whom are obese. Women with a normal BMI accounted for 36.5% of the sample. These anthropometric data show that the women surveyed present far more problems with overweight than with protein-caloric malnutrition. We can explain this result by the type of eating habits prevalent in the province. As in most of Morocco's poorer regions. this province is known for its traditional wheat-based diet and high consumption of sweetened beverages (teas) (13, 14). This type of diet can lead to an excess of protein and energy, accentuated by the considerable sedentary lifestyle in this predominantly rural province. Furthermore, the WHO indicates that overweight/obesity is the result of sedentary lifestyles and the consumption of foods rich in fat and energy (15). Moreover, in North African countries, overweight women are considered a sign of social status and a cultural symbol of beauty, fertility and prosperity (16).
Our results are perfectly in line with those observed in Morocco. the latest Ministry of Health survey in 2019–2020. The anthropometric characteristics of women of childbearing age show that 57.6% of overweight women (BMI ≥ 25) were overweight, 28.4% were obese, and 40.1% had a normal build (6). A study of women in Morocco revealed that the overall prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 38.78% and 30.61%, respectively (17). The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing rapidly throughout the world. In the countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO), the latest data from national surveys between 2017 and 2019 revealed adult overweight prevalence rates of 35.5% in Bahrain, 36.4% in Kuwait and 38% in Lebanon (1). Stepwise survey data reported prevalences of 60.7% in Jordan (2019), 57.8% in Palestine (2010–2011) and 74.6% in Kuwait (2020) (1).
Overweight/obesity is a major determinant of noncommunicable diseases, particularly noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), coronary heart disease and stroke. It increases the risk of cancer (several types), cholecystopathy, osteoarticular disorders and respiratory symptoms. It is costly not only in terms of premature death and healthcare but also in terms of disability and reduced quality of life (15). Moreover, one study indicated that overweight or obese women have later access to antenatal care than women with a normal BMI, putting them at increased risk of maternal and fetal morbidity, and need help to address inequalities in access to antenatal care (18).
In Morocco, according to the McKinsey Global Institute, 24 billion Dirhams a year is the annual cost of combating obesity, particularly for Moroccan public finances, representing approximately 3% of the Kingdom's GDP, or twice the budget of the Ministry of Health (19). These estimates are based on direct costs (treatments for hypertension. Diabetes, myocardial infarction. Hospitalization, hypertriglyceridemia. etc.) and indirect costs, which include lost productivity due to obesity and related illnesses (20). Obesity is not only a health problem but also a major economic and commercial challenge (6, 21).
Determinants of the nutritional status of the women studied.
Binary logistic regression revealed a significant relationship between women's overweight/obesity status. level of education and age. Thus, we note that the risk of being overweight/obese was 1.5 times greater among literate women than among illiterate women and 1.3 times greater among older women.
With respect to educational attainment, similar results have been reported globally in Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, India and Ethiopia, indicating that women with higher education levels are more likely to be overweight or obese (22–27). Other studies reported different results in Côte d'Ivoire, Iran and Nepal, overweight was observed, particularly among illiterate women or those with only primary education (28–31). Similarly, a multicenter study in North Africa, West/Central Asia and Latin America revealed that a low level of education was associated with a higher prevalence of overweight. In all regions, there was a consistent trend toward increased overweight across all education groups (32).
Our results also diverge from those observed in Morocco. A national anthropometry survey in 2011 revealed that the prevalence of obesity among adults with a low level of education is twice as high as that among adults with a high level of education (33). The latest national nutrition survey in Morocco from 2019–2020 reaffirmed that overweight and obesity predominated among women with a low level of education (Ministry of Health. 2020b). In the city of Smara in southern Morocco, a low rate of obesity was observed among women with medium to high levels of education, and more than half of illiterate women were obese (34). On the other hand, according to another study in eastern Morocco, women's level of education is not associated with obesity (17).
Our results can probably be explained by the highly significant relationship observed between a woman's place of residence, her level of education, her standard of living and her professional activity. In this study, the best-educated urban women had an average to high standard of living (60.4%) and were professionally active in 80.4% of the cases. These favorable social conditions, especially for urban households and wealthier classes, favor their adoption of a modern lifestyle. The authors reported that high household wealth was associated with an increased likelihood of being overweight and obese in adult women (35). Ready-to-eat foods and out-of-home food are becoming more common in urban areas, favoring the consumption of foods rich in sugar and fat (7). Morocco's 2011–2019 national nutrition strategy indicated an overall increase in Moroccans' energy intake from 2202 kcal in 1970 to 3031 kcal in 2001 in urban areas, accentuated by sedentary behaviors, which expose overweight individuals. Like many developing countries, Morocco is undergoing a nutritional transition from a diet rich in starch and fiber, low in fat and physically active, to a more diversified diet rich in sugars, saturated animal fats and processed foods, low in fruit, vegetables and fiber, and a sedentary lifestyle (7). Analysis of eating behaviors in Essaouira Province is therefore necessary to complete these observations.
This study revealed a statistically positive association between women's age and overweight/obesity. The age group most affected by overweight/obesity was the 35–49 years age group (67.3%), compared with the 18–24 and 24–34 years age groups. Indeed, national surveys have shown that the average BMI of women increases significantly with age (33, 36). This result has been demonstrated by studies in southern and eastern Morocco (17, 34).
Numerous studies in developing countries have highlighted the linear relationship between age and nutritional status in women of childbearing age. Advanced age was a significant predictor of overweight/obesity in Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, India, Nepal, Ethiopia. Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Bangladesh (23–25, 25, 27, 28, 31, 37–40).
These unanimous results show that overweight tends to accumulate over time. potentially increasing the risk of chronic diseases associated with overweight/obesity.
BMI is a reliable and easy-to-calculate tool, yet it is notorious for its limitations in quantifying and correctly distributing body fat. Various approaches to measuring fat are now available, allowing us to distinguish between android and gynecoid obesity. In the former, fat accumulates in the abdomen, and in the latter, fat accumulates in the gluteal region. A greater distribution is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease. Anthropometric measures of fat distribution include the ratio between waist circumference measured at the navel and hip circumference measured at the greater trochanters (41). which we do not have the opportunity to measure during surveys. In addition, the assessment of body fat could also be achieved via new, complex methods such as bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC), which can be complemented by approaches to differentiate obese people via classification and scoring systems (20). Another limitation was the inability to know the BMI before the last pregnancy due to insufficient traceability of women's health diaries. Pre-pregnancy BMI is recognized as a key factor in the parity‒overweight/obesity relationship; postpartum weight gain may be greater in women with a high pre-pregnancy BMI, and the effect of breastfeeding may be involved in BMI modification (42). Additionally, we were unable to obtain sufficient usable information on the lifestyle of the women surveyed, such as diet and physical activity. which are implicated in the increase in overweight/obesity (43).
Considering these results, it seems necessary to raise awareness of a healthy lifestyle among women, especially those who are more educated. by adopting good eating habits and engaging in regular physical activity. The WHO recommends reducing fat intake (20–25%) to minimize energy imbalance and weight gain (15). Overweight and obesity are accompanied by an increase in chronic diseases and NCDs, indicating the need for the earliest possible prevention, from adulthood onward. Overweight/obesity prevention programs linked to parity should target all women (44).
The WHO has consistently called on member countries to adopt nutrition strategies to alleviate these problems. Indeed, aware of the decisive role of nutrition in helping reduce maternal and infant mortality. and in line with WHO recommendations, a National Nutrition Strategy 2011–2019 has been put in place in Morocco to improve the nutritional status of the population by acting on one of its major determinants, namely, nutrition, particularly among women of childbearing age. In addition, a national nutrition survey was carried out from 2019–2020 covering all of Morocco to provide recent data to enable the monitoring and evaluation of actions included in the national nutrition program already in place in Morocco since 2011 and in the operational plan for the prevention of overweight and obesity, which targets both women of childbearing age and other vulnerable population categories (6).
Despite the progress made in Morocco, efforts need to be made to generalize prevention as part of the continuum of care, to create healthy environments and to ensure that healthier food options for the population are affordable and easily accessible (6).