At least 26 per cent of children aged between six and 59 months in Uganda are stunted, or too short for their age.

Stunting is highest in the Karamoja sub-region (44%) and lowest in the Teso sub-region (14%).

According to the Uganda Demographic Health Survey 2022, children from rural households were more likely to be stunted (27%) compared to urban areas (22%).

"Stunting prevalence increases as the wealth quintile decreases at household level with 30% of children from the lowest quintile stunted compared to 19% from the wealthiest quintiles,” the report released March 7, 2024, by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) in conjunction with the health ministry said.

Stunting is an indication of chronic undernutrition. According to the report, three per cent of children are wasted (too thin for height), which it noted is a sign of acute malnutrition.

It added that 10% of children are underweight, or too thin for their age and three per cent are overweight (heavy for their height).

The report, however, revealed that the nutritional status of Ugandan children has improved since 2006, dropping from 38% in 2006 to 26% in 2022.

Malnourished adults

During the survey, UDHS also took weight and height measurements of women and men aged 15-49, finding that at least nine per cent of women were thin (body mass index or BMI < 18.5).

BMI or body mass index is a measure that uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is healthy.

Comparatively, 26% of women were overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 25.0), the report noted.

It noted that women in the wealthiest households in Uganda are five times more overweight or obese than women from the poorest households (45% versus 8%).

Since 2006, overweight or obesity has increased from 17% to 26% in 2022.

Among men, 15% are thin (BMI < 18.5) and only 11% are overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25.0).

Men with more than secondary education (28%) and those from the wealthiest households (21%) are overweight or obese, said the report.

How to calculate your BMI

The BMI calculation divides an adult's weight in kilograms by their height in metres squared. For example, A BMI of 25 means 25kg/m2.

For most adults, an ideal BMI is in the 18.5 to 24.9 range.

For children and young people aged 2 to 18, the BMI calculation takes into account age and gender as well as height and weight.

If your BMI is below 18.5, you're in the underweight range. Between 18.5 and 24.9, you're in the healthy weight range and between 25 and 29.9 – you're in the overweight range. Thirty or over, you're in the obese range.