Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factors Among Adolescent Boys and Girls in Bangladesh: Evidence From a National Survey.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factors and the factors associated with the coexistence of multiple risk factors (≥ 2 risk factors) among adolescent boys and girls in Bangladesh.

Methods: Data on selected NCD risk factors collected from face to face interviews of 4,907 boys and 4,865 girls in the national Nutrition Surveillance round 2018-2019, was used. Descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed.

Results: The prevalence of insufficient fruit and vegetable intake, inadequate physical activity, tobacco use, and being overweight/obese was 90.72%, 29.03%, 4.57%, and 6.04%, respectively among boys; and 94.32%, 50.33%, 0.43%, and 8.03%, respectively among girls. Multiple risk factors were present among 34.87% of boys and 51.74% of girls. Younger age ( < 0.001), non-slum urban ( < 0.001) and slum residence ( < 0.001), higher paternal education ( = 0.001), and depression ( < 0.001) were associated with the coexistence of multiple risk factors in both boys and girls. Additionally, higher maternal education ( < 0.001) and richest wealth quintile ( = 0.023) were associated with the coexistence of multiple risk factors in girls.

Conclusion: The government should integrate specific services into the existing health and non-health programs which are aimed at reducing the burden of NCD risk factors.