Adolescent obesity: An emerging public health crisis in an urban city in South-South Nigeria
Accepted: 29 June 2021
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In Nigeria, a prevalence of obesity of 4.2% has been reported among adolescents in a study in South-West Nigeria. Studies on the prevalence of obesity among adolescents have yielded different prevalence rates in different parts of the country. The present study was planned to determine the prevalence of obesity amongst apparently healthy adolescents aged 10-18 years in secondary schools in Uyo, as well as determine associated predisposing factors to obesity. This was a cross sectional school-based study of 1,701 adolescents selected by multi-stage sampling technique, carried out between December 2016 to February 2018. It involved measurement of weight, height and waist circumference of the study subjects, as well as administration of pretested questionnaires. Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC) percentile and waist to height ratio of the subjects were determined. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20. Prevalence of obesity was determined and Chi Square was used to determine the relationship between qualitative variables. General obesity was defined as a BMI ≥95th percentile, while central obesity was defined as WtHR ≥0.5 or waist circumference ≥90th percentile for age and sex. Prevalence of general obesity was 5.6% while the prevalence of central obesity was 11.2% using WC percentile and 9% using WHtR. This study also revealed higher prevalence of obesity in females, adolescents from monogamous homes, as well as those whose parents are from the upper socio-class. It is recommended that routine measurement of the indices of adiposity and public health enlightenment measures aimed at reducing the burden of obesity amongst adolescents in Uyo be encouraged by public health authorities. The physicians should be encouraged to measure the indices of adiposity during consultations.
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