Author(s)

Nkiru Veronica Agu¹, Kenneth Nchekwube Okeke², Sylvia Tochukwu Echendu^1*, Chinyere Ukamaka Onubogu², Joy Chinelo Ebenebe², Thomas Obiajulu Ulasi², Njideka Constance Uchefuna¹, Christian Chukwuemeka Ifezulike³, Amalachukwu Okwukweka Odita², Joseph Ezeogu⁴

¹Department of Paediatrics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria.
²Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
³Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, Nigeria.
⁴Department of Paediatrics, Imo state Teaching Hospital, Orlu, Nigeria.

Background: The prevalence of obesity among adolescent has been on the increase worldwide. This is probably a result of increase in the sedentary life style and the increasing shift to western diet. Obesity in children and adolescents has adverse consequences. These include increase in the rate of Diabetes Mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular diseases, etc with resultant increase in premature deaths. Objectives: To determine the socio-demographic and behavioral factors associated with overweight and obesity in apparently healthy secondary school adolescents. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of secondary school adolescents aged 10 - 19 years randomly selected from two public schools and three private schools. The weight and heights of study subjects were measured using standard equipment. Body mass index (BMI) was appropriately calculated and the WHO growth reference standard for age and gender, specific percentile for BMI was used to define overweight 85^th to 97^th and obese (97^th percentile and above). Results: Data were initially collected from 1250 participants, but 52 were excluded due to improperly completed questionnaires. Thus, a total of 1198 students were ultimately included in the study, giving a response rate of 95.8%. These included 621 females (51.8%) and 577 males (48.2%) aged 10 - 19 years giving a F:M ratio of 1:0.9. The mean age of the students was 15.07 ± 1.96 years overall, 15.13 ± 2.08 years for males and 15.03 ± 1.83 years for females. There was no statistically significant difference between male and female in the distribution of age groups (p = 0.12). The mean BMI was 21.51 ± 3.57 kg/m² for females and 20.22 ± 3.16 kg/m² for males. The BMI was significantly higher in females in all age groups (p < 0.001) except those aged 10 - <12 years (p = 0.13). The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were higher in females than males (17.7% vs 10.7%, 5.6% vs 4.5% respectively; p < 0.001) and most prevalent among the early adolescence (10 ≤ 12 yrs; p = 0.04). The frequent consumption of sugar based beverages (p < 0.001), sedentary lifestyles (p < 0.001), non participation in school based sports (p = 0.03) were significantly associated with both overweight and obesity (p < 0.001). Also commuting to school by car/bus (p < 0.001) and lack of engagement in household chores (p < 0.001) were also significantly associated with obesity. Conclusion: Sociodemographic factors such as gender, socioeconomic status and behavioral patterns were major contributors to obesity. Behavioral interventions including regulating the intake of sugar based beverages and reducing the time spent on sedentary activities could be useful strategies in reducing the high prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents.

Adolescent, Obesity, Socio-Demographic, Behavioral Factors

Agu, N. , Okeke, K. , Echendu, S. , Onubogu, C. , Ebenebe, J. , Ulasi, T. , Uchefuna, N. , Ifezulike, C. , Odita, A. and Ezeogu, J. (2023) Socio-Demographic Factors Associated with Obesity among Adolescents in Secondary School in Onitsha, South East Nigeria. Open Journal of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, 13, 85-106. doi: 10.4236/ojemd.2023.137009.