Table 2.
Weight status of preschool children from urban high-income, urban low-income, and rural low-income settings across South Africa.
| Total (n = 258) | Urban high-income (n = 46) | Urban low-income (n = 91) | Rural (n = 122) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 5.18 ± 0.70 | 5.28 ± 0.72 | 5.35 ± 0.72a | 5.02 ± 0.64a |
| BMI z-scores | −0.05 ± 1.03 | −0.25 ± 0.81 | 0.40 ± 1.05b | −0.10 ± 1.02 |
| BMI (kg·m−2) | 15.46 ± 1.57 | 15.02 ± 1.11 | 16.00 ± 1.71b | 15.22 ± 1.50 |
| Weight status % | ||||
| Thinness (low BMI for age) | 19 | 23.92 | 7.7 | 25.63 |
| Normal weight | 72.09 | 71.74 | 75.82 | 69.42 |
| Overweight | 5.81 | 4.35 | 10.99 | 2.48 |
| Obesity & morbid obesity | 3.1 | 0 | 5.5 | 2.48 |
Age and BMI data presented as means ± SD. “a” indicates significant difference between rural and urban low-income children. “b” indicates significant difference between urban low-income children and urban high-income and rural children (all p < 0.05).