@article{Onagbiye_Ricci_Bester_Ricci_2023, title={Sedentariness and overweight in relation to mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. A mediation analysis based on the World Health Organization-Global Health Observatory data repository}, volume={14}, url={https://publichealthinafrica.org/jphia/article/view/2155}, DOI={10.4081/jphia.2023.2155}, abstractNote={<p><strong>Background.</strong> Globally, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have been continuously reported to be the number one leading cause of reduced life expectancy and poor life quality and have thus become a major public health concern. <br /><strong>Objective.</strong> This study aimed to investigate the complex mediation analysis between physical inactivity and overweight in relation to mortality. <br /><strong>Methods.</strong> The study is based on public data collected by the Global Health Observatory of the World Health Organization. <br /><strong>Results.</strong> We showed that the median early mortality attributable to NCDs during the period 2016-2019 in both men and women was 23.2% (5th to 95th range=17.2, 35.6) while that in men alone was 25.1% (16.5, 45.7) and that of women alone was 22.0% (17.0, 27.9). When considering regional early NCDs mortality for both men and women, a systematically high median was observed in Southern Africa [28.7% (22.2, 43.8)] and a low median in Eastern Africa [21.1% (17.15, 27.3)]. The analysis of the overall relation between physical inactivity, overweight and early mortality due to NCDs revealed a statistical significance of the direct association between physical inactivity and early mortality due to NCDs. <br /><strong>Conclusion.</strong> Our findings revealed three main epidemiological and public health concerns. First, early mortality attributable to NCDs in a range of about 20 to 30% across the sub-Saharan African regions for both sexes was observed. Second, there was a direct effect between physical inactivity and early NCDs mortality as well as the indirect effect mediated by overweight. Finally, a percentage point decrease in physical inactivity prevalence and overweight could effectively generate a reduction in mortality due to NCDs. Future studies are needed to confirm the scientific evidence observed in this study. Such studies should be based on observation of individual subjects, adopt a longitudinal design, and collect information that evaluates the complex relationship between physical inactivity and early NCDs mortality, along with the role of overweight as a possible mediator.</p>}, number={4}, journal={Journal of Public Health in Africa}, author={Onagbiye, Sunday and Ricci, Hannah and Bester, Petra and Ricci, Cristian}, year={2023}, month={May} }