Table 7 Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression predictors of thinness among school adolescent girls in Megale district, Afar Regional state, Northeastern Ethiopia, April, 2017 (N = 736)

Age of adolescents

Early (10–13)

74 (25.9)

212 (74.1)

3.53 (1.56–8.00)

2.89 (1.23–6.81)*

Middle (14–16)

26 (9.6)

246 (90.4)

1.07 (0.43–2.69)

0.99 (0.39–2.57)

Late (17–19)

16 (9)

162 (59.6)

1

1

Eating snacks

No

46 (16.9)

226 (83.1)

1.15 (0.65–2.04)

0.93 (0.49–1.67)

Yes

70 (15.1)

394 (84.9)

1

1

Grade level

4th

50 (18.8)

216 (81.2)

2.92 (1.06–8.00)

2.27 (0.71–7.28)

5th

38 (22.6)

130 (77.4)

3.68 (1.29–10.47)

2.25 (0.68–7.49)

6th

12 (11.8)

90 (88.2)

1.68 (0.48–5.85)

0.99 (0.25–3.99)

7th

6 (9.4)

58 (90.6)

1.30 (0.29–5.83)

1.52 (0.30–7.59)

8th

10 (7.4)

126 (92.64)

1

1

Marital status

Unmarried

108 (17.2)

520 (82.8)

2.59 (0.90–7.49)

1.05 (0.28–3.92)

Married

8 (7.4)

100 (92.6)

1

1

Menarche

No

100 (19.0)

430 (81.0)

2.76 (1.26–6.05)

0.53 (0.18–1.53)

Yes

16 (7.8)

190 (92.2)

1

1

Dietary diversity score

DDS < 4

108 (16.3)

530 (83.7)

2.29 (0.79–6.64)

0.44 (0.14–1.38)

DDS ≥ 4

8 (12.2)

90 (87.8)

1

1