Obesity in Bangladesh: Study food near schools | Science

Childhood malnutrition is a well-known problem in low- and middle-income countries, but children in countries such as Bangladesh also face increasing rates of obesity (1). Obesity in both public and private schools in Bangladesh ranges from 14 to 38% (2), and about 23.6% of adolescents are overweight (3). Because the food environment— i.e., the type and amount of food that is available and accessible—affects children’s dietary preferences and health outcomes, it is considered a primary cause of obesity (4, 5). Bangladesh must collect data about the food environment in and near schools and then use that information to address childhood obesity.