LAUSR

The double burden of malnutrition (DBM) is a major public health problem in the world. Overweight and obesity with concurrent stunting (called stuntingoverweight) is one of the specific forms of DBM at the individual level, and it has been documented in several low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, the changes in country-level prevalence of stuntingoverweight has not been known. The impact of socioeconomic inequalities on the prevalence of stuntingoverweight also have not been done across LMICs. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the changes of stuntingoverweight prevalence among children under five-years, and to assess socioeconomic inequality in the prevalence in LMICs. Secondary data analysis was conducted in 58 LMICs between 2006 and 2018, comprising 692,704 children under five years old by using the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). For stuntingoverweight, the following values were estimated: rate ratio, mean difference, the slope index of inequality (SII), and the relative index of inequality (RII). The range of the prevalence of stuntingoverweight was lower than the ranges in the country-level prevalence of stunting and overweight. The relative index of inequality (RII) by wealth status ranged from 0.16 (Peru) to 2.31 (Nepal). RII by maternal education ranged from 0.06 (Kyrgyz Republic) to 15.11 (Tajikistan). Stuntingoverweight was found more in the poorest households. Among 31 LMICs, 27 countries reduced the prevalence of stuntingoverweight except four countries. However, to what extent the prevalence of stuntingoverweight reduced varied between countries. The prevalence of stuntingoverweight had been reduced in most countries, and socioeconomic inequalities existed in the prevalence and its change. Governments require health policies in addition to preventing stunting to ensure that children who are already stunted have a healthy life without becoming overweight concurrently. N/A.