Sabuj Kanti Mistry, a Master of Science in Public Health from the University, partnered with Dr Shuby Puthussery, from the University’s Institute for Health Research, to pull together existing research and uncover correlations between weight problems and factors such as socioeconomic status, junk food tendencies and even video game usage.

The pair researched more than 300 published papers, and reviewed 11 studies conducted across school settings in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, with striking results.

“Increasing trends of obesity and overweight among children in South Asia are beyond expectation as most countries in the region continue to have high numbers of malnourished children,” said Sabuj, who graduated in 2013.

“The findings reflect the nutrition transition that is happening in other developing countries as well. Such a situation of under- and over-nutrition poses dual challenges that need to be tackled with carefully developed actions at several levels.”

Risk factors of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence in South Asian countries: a systematic review of the evidence, published in the journal Public Health, sought to find the reasons for an issue thought to be restricted to economically developed countries.

Four of the studies included in the review considered frequent intake of junk food and discovered a significant correlation between that and obesity, whilst more than half of the studies reviewed found inadequate physical activity was a significant reason for children becoming overweight or obese.

Furthermore, obese children were 50 times more likely than non-obese children to have a family history of obesity. The review indicated that children and young people with one overweight parent were nearly three times more likely to become overweight or obese compared to those whose parents were a healthy weight.

Perhaps the most surprising finding, however, was that 80% of studies looking at long-duration video game and television usage discovered a significant positive correlation with obesity and overweight.

Dr Puthussery explained how such telling results from a Bedfordshire graduate provide an example for current students to follow.

“I was delighted to work with Sabuj on this important piece of work on a significant, yet relatively unrecognised, public health issue in low income countries. The findings carry several implications for policy and practice in the region, as well as more globally.

“Sabuj’s publication is also a true inspiration for all our students and shows what they need to do to produce good quality research that can make a positive impact in the global public health arena.”

Now a Senior Research Associate at BRAC, Sabuj says his paper is a result of his ‘extensive’ education at the University.

“As I was doing my MSc Public Health dissertation at the University of Bedfordshire, I gained extensive research skills to identify issues where there is a real evidence gap, and to apply theoretical and practical knowledge to find answers to questions that need to be supported by scientific evidence.

“The publication is a true testimony to this, and I am grateful to my supervisor (Shuby), who contributed immensely to complete the research and finally to publish the paper.”