TITLE:
Factors Associated with Overweight and Obesity in an Urban Area of South East Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Uchenna Nkemdilim Ijoma, Peter Chime, Chinwe Onyekonwu, Birinus Adikaibe Ezeala-Adikaibe, Casmir Orjioke, Obumneme Benneth Anyim, Obinna Donatus Onodugo, Eddy Aneke, Chidimma Brenda Nwatu, Ekenechukwu Young, Nkeiruka Mbadiwe, Oluchi Stella Ekenze, Julius Uwabunkeonye Okoye, Michael Abonyi, Ifeoma Isabella Ulasi, Anthony Mbah, Pauline Nkiruka Onodugo
KEYWORDS:
Obesity, Overweight, Hypertension, Diabetes, Nigeria
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.10 No.7,
July
12,
2019
ABSTRACT: Background: Overweight and obesity present a growing health problem among Africans
from all socioeconomic status. In Sub Saharan African, obesity is not only a consequence of overnutrition
but possibly from excessive consumption of unbalanced diet dominated by
carbohydrates and saturated fats. Characteristics of the distribution of
obesity/overweight in Nigeria include its high prevalence along with socioeconomic class and in mid-life. Methods: Using the WHO STEP-wise approach to surveillance of noncommunicable diseases, we conducted a
cross-sectional descriptive study of the adult population living in two urban
slums in Enugu. The study was carried out in 2013. Statistical analysis was
done using SPSS version. Results: A total of 605 (414 women (68.4%) and 191 (31.6%) men were recruited and analysed. The mean body mass index was 25.8 kg/m2 higher in
females (26.7 kg/m2)
than males (24 kg/m2)
p is 29.4% (178/605) and 19.5% (118/605) respectively.
There also a modest prevalence of underweight 4% (24/605) among the population.
All classes of obesity were significantly more prevalent in females.
Significant positive correlates of BMI were: female sex (r = 0.21, p (0.16 (Conclusion: The
prevalence of obesity is relatively high in two urban slums in Enugu and
co-exists with a modest rate of underweight. Public health and community-based
approaches should be used to tackle these two-opposing social/health problems.