title: Nutrition Transition and Obesity Among Teenagers and Young Adults in South Asia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity among teenagers/adolescents and young adults is associated with significant adverse short and longer-term effects on health. To date, no narrative reviews have evaluated nutrition transition and its contribution to the obesity epidemic among adolescents and young adults in the South Asian (SA) region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were retrieved by a four-stage systematic search process. A search of the online Pub- Med/Medline, SciVerse Scopus and Web of Science databases was performed. The age groups were defined as follows; teenage:13-19 years, adolescence:10-18 years and young adult:19-24 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among teenagers/adolescents, the prevalence of overweight ranged from 11.0% (Sri Lanka) to 19.0% (India), while obesity ranged from 2.4% (Sri Lanka) to 11.0% (Pakistan). In young adults, prevalence of overweight ranged between 7.9% (Nepal) to 15.0% (Pakistan), while obesity showed a much wider variation (0.005%[Nepal] - 22.8%[India]). Nutritional risk factors associated with overweight/ obesity among SAs of this age group included reduced fruit and vegetable consumption, a total vegetarian diet, consumption of fast food and soft drinks, and skipping breakfast. Other contributing factors identified were: adding extra salt to meals, eating meals outside of the home, frequently visiting restaurants and eating while watching television. Daily milk/yoghurt consumption and a family supper have shown a protective effect against overweight/obesity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overweight and obesity are common amongst teenagers/adolescents and young adults of the SA region. Several food types and habits were identified as being associated with overweight/ obesity in this population. Identifying common protective and contributory factors is very important for the development of a shared regional preventive strategy.
authors: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo. Sri Lanka.
authors: Ranil
authors: R
authors: Jayawardena
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo. Sri Lanka.
authors: Priyanga
authors: P
authors: Ranasinghe
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo. Sri Lanka.
authors: Maheshi
authors: M
authors: Wijayabandara
authors: School of Health Sciences, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS. Australia.
authors: Andrew P
authors: AP
authors: Hills
authors: Fortis-C-DOC Centre of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology, Chirag Enclave, New Delhi, India.
authors: Anoop
authors: A
authors: Misra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescents; South Asia; nutrition transition; obesity; overweight; teenagers; young adults