Bangladesh 2014

Overall, 13 percent of ever-married women are below the cut-off of 145 centimeters in height. The
proportion below the cut-off for women’s height does not vary much by age group. Urban women and
women in Khulna division tend to be taller than other women. Woman’s educational status and household
wealth are positively associated with height. For example, 18 percent of uneducated women and 16 percent
of women in the lowest wealth quintile are below 145 centimeters in height compared with 7 percent of
women who have completed secondary or higher education and 9 percent of women in the highest wealth
quintile.
The mean BMI for ever-married women age 15-49 is 22.3 (Table 11.8), which falls in the normal
BMI classification. About 6 in 10 ever-married women (58 percent) have a normal BMI, and 19 percent are
undernourished or thin (BMI less than 18.5). Despite much discussion, the global nutrition community has
retained the international classification of BMI ≥25 kg/m 2 cut-off for overweight and obesity for adults.
Based on this classification, 24 percent of women are overweight or obese (BMI 25 or higher). Variations
are apparent by background characteristics. Ever-married women age 15-19 are more likely to be thin or
undernourished compared with women in other age cohorts (Figure 11.8). The proportion of overweight
women increases with age. Rural women are more likely than urban women to be undernourished (21 percent
and 12 percent, respectively), whereas urban women are twice as likely to be overweight or obese compared
with rural women (36 percent and 19 percent, respectively). Among the divisions, the proportion of
undernourished women ranges from 14 percent in Khulna to 30 percent in Sylhet. As educational attainment
and household wealth increase, the proportion of women who are undernourished declines sharply, while
the proportion of overweight or obese women increases. Bangladeshi women in the highest wealth quintile
are six times more likely to be overweight or obese compared with women in the lowest wealth quintile.
However, the World Health Organization (WHO Expert Consultation 2004) also noted that the cutoff
points of 23, 27.5, 32.5 and 37.5 kg/m 2 are to be added as points for public health action. Based on this,
Table 11.8 includes a column showing BMI ≥23 kg/m 2 as a measure of overweight and obesity by
background characteristics. Based on this classification, 39 percent of women are overweight or obese, 15
percentage points higher than the measure based on BMI ≥25 kg/m 2 . Variations across subgroups of
population are similar to that measured by BMI ≥25 kg/m 2 . Using this classification, women in urban areas
are 19 percentage points more likely than rural women to be overweight or obese (53 percent and 34 percent,
respectively).
Figure 11.8 Percentage of undernourishment (BMI