Adolescent obesity: An emerging public health crisis in an urban city in South-South Nigeria

Submitted: 20 May 2021
Accepted: 29 June 2021
Published: 27 July 2021
Abstract Views: 1215
PDF: 328
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Authors

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.

Dimensions

Altmetric

PlumX Metrics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations

Gahagan S. Overweight and obesity. In Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St Gene III JW, et al. (eds) Nelson Textbook of Paediatrics. 19th edition. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2011; 707-24.
Schneider HJ, Friederich N, Klitsche J, et al. The Predictive Value of different measures of obesity for incident cardiovascular events and mortlity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2010;95:1777-85. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2009-1584
Chaoying Li, Ford SE, Zhao G, Mokdad A. Prevalence of Prediabetes and its association with clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors and hyperinsulinaemia among US Adolescents. Diabetes Care 2009;32:342-49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2337/dc08-1128
Egan K, Ettiger A, Bracken M. Childhood BMI and Subsequent Physician diagnosed Asthma: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. BMC Pediatrics 2013:13:121-33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-13-121
Narang I, Matthew JL. Childhood obesity ad obstructive sleep apnea. J Nutr Metab 2012:2012:8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/134202
Griffiths LJ, Dezateux C, Hill AJ. Self Esteem and Quality of life in obese children and adolescent: A systematic review. Int J of Paediatric Obes 2010;5:282-304. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3109/17477160903473697
Daniels SR. Complications of Obesity in children and adolescents. Int J Obes (Lond) 2009;33:60-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.20
Ebbeling CB, Pawlak DB, Ludwig DS. Childhood obesity: Public health crisis, common sense care. Lancet 2002;360:473-82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(02)09678-2
McBride D. Childhood obesity. Practice Nurse 2010;39:40-5.
Metzer MW, McDade TW. Breastfeeding as obesity prevention in the United States: A sibling model. AM J Hum Biol 2010;22:291-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.20982
Mitchell JA, Mattocks C, Ness AR, et al. Sedentary behaviour and obesity in a large cohort of children. Obesity 2009;17:1596-02. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2009.42
Malik VS, Schulze MB, Hu FB. Intake of Sugar sweetened beverages and weight gain: A systematic review AM J Clin Nutr 2006;84:274-88. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/84.2.274
Catalano PM, Farell K, Thomas A, et al. Perinatal risk factors for childhood obesity and metabolic dysregulation AM J Clin Nutr 2009;90:1303-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.2008.27416
Wang Y, Lobstein T. Worldwide trends in childhood overweight and obesity. Int J of Paediatr Obes 2006;1:11-25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17477160600586747
Ogden CL, Flegal KM, Caroll MD, Johnson CL. Prevalence and trends in overweight among US Children and Adolescents 1999-2000. JAMA 2002;288:1728-32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.14.1728
Kumah DB, Akuffo KO, Abaka-Cann JE, Osae EA. Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among students in the Kumasi Metropolis. J Nutr Metab 2015:2015:61320c. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/613207
Udoh SB, Iyanam V. Overweight, obesity and underweight profile among adolescent secondary school students in Uyo, South-South Nigeria. NJFP 2016;7:17-26.
Sabajeh AO, Ojofeitimi EO. Prevalence of obesity among adolescents in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria using BMI and waist-hip-ratio: a comparative study. Niger Med J 2013;54:153-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0300-1652.114566
Summary of the two LGAs, Uyo and Itu LGA as per Federal Republic of Nigeria official gazette. (15th May 2007) legal notice on the publication of the details of the breakdown of the national and state provisional totals 2006 census. Accessed 15/6/16.
Akwa Ibom State Government. Akwa Ibom State: geographical location. 2012. Accessed: 6/10/2017. Available from: https://www.aksgonline.com/about_geography.html
Araoye MO. Sample size determination. In: Araoye MO. Research methodology for health and social sciences Ilorin. Nathadex; 2003.
Naung L, Winn T, Rush BN. Practical issues in calculating sample size for prevalence studies. Arch Orofac Sci 2006;1:9-14.
World Health Organization. Physical station: the use and interpretation of anthropometry; a report of a WHO expert committee serves no 854. Geneva: 1995. Accessed: 7/7/16. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/37003
Kuczmarski RJ, Ogden CL, Grummer-Strawn LM, Flegal KM, Guo SS, Wei R, Mei Z, Curtin LR, Roche AF, Johnson CL. CDC growth charts: United States. Adv Data 2000;314:1-27.
Browning LM, Hsieh SD, Ashwell M. A systematic review of Waist to height ratio as a screening tool for the prediction of Cardiovascular disease and diabetes: O.5 could be a suitable global value. Nutr Pos Rev 2010;23:247-61. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954422410000144
Evsa MA, Dai S, Mihalopoulos NL, et al. Trajectories of Fat mass index, fat free mass index and waist circumference in children. AM J Prev Med 2009;37:S34-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2009.04.005
Price GM, Maning R, Breeze E, et al. Weight, shape and mortality risk in older persons, elevated WHTR, not BMI is associated with a higher risk of death. AM J Clin Nutr 2006;84:449-60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/84.2.449
Rohilla R, Rajput M, Rohilla J, et al. Prevalence of overweight/obesity among adolescents in an urban city of North India. J Fam Med Primary CARE 2014,3:404. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/2249-4863.148127
Igbokwe O, Adimorah G, Ikefuna A, et al. Sociodemographic determinants of malnutrition amongst primary school aged children in Enugu, Nigeria. PAMJ 2017:28:248. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2017.28.248.13171
Musa DI, Toriola AL, Monyeki MA, Lawal B. Prevalence of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity in Benue state Nigeria. J Trop Med Int Health 2012;17:1369-75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2012.03083.x
Castro JAC, Nunes HEG, Solva DAS. Prevalence of Obesity in Adolescents: Assoication between sociodemographic factors and lifestyle. Rev Paul Pediatr 2016;34:343-51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rppede.2016.01.007
Palk J, Holmes DC, Mendoza JA, et al. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and obesity in adolescents aged 12-19 years, comparison between the United States and Korea. J Korean Med Sci 2010;25:75-82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2010.25.1.75
Senbanjo IO, Orlukoya KA. Obesity and blood pressure levels of adolescents in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Cardiovasc Topics 2012;23:260-4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5830/CVJA-2011-037
Kromeyer-Hauschild K, Neuhauser H, Schaffrath Rosario A, Schienkiewitz A. Abdominal obesity in German adolescents defined by waist-to-height ratio and its association to elevated blood pressure: the KiGGS study. Obes Facts 2013;6:165-75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/000351066
Alkaly YS, Ambe JP, Sabin M, Zacharin M. Socioeconomic status, lifestyle and childhood obesity in Gombe. NJP 2015;42:107-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/njp.v42i2.7
Wang Y. Disparities in paediatric obesity in the United States. Adv Nutr 2011;2:23-31. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3945/an.110.000083
Oera JA, Adejuyibe O. Fat mass percentage body mass index and mid upper arm circumference in a healthy population of Nigerian children. J Trop Pediatr 1997;43:13-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/tropej/43.1.13
Akesode FA, Ajibode HA. Prevalence of obesity among Nigerian secondary school children in Abeokuta. Soc Sci Med 1983:107-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(83)90361-1
Ahmad MM, Ahmed H, Airede K. Body Mass Index among school adolescents in Sokoto; North Western Nigeria. Sahel Med J 2013;16:5-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1118-8561.112049
Rossouw HA, Grant CC Viljoen M. Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents: the South African problem. S Afri J Sci 2012;108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajs.v108i5/6.907
Zillikens MC, Yazdanpanah M, Pardo LM, et al. Sex Specific genetic effects influence variations in body composition. Diabetologia 2008;51:2233-4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-008-1163-0
Ojofetimi EO, Olugbenga-Bello AI, Adekanle DA, Adeomi AA. Patterns and determinants of obesity among adolescents females in private and public schools in the Olorunda local government area of Osun State, Nigeria: A comparative study. J Pub Health Afr 2011;2:45-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2011.e11

How to Cite

Irelosen, A. K., Eno Etim, N. ., & Babatunde, A. S. (2021). Adolescent obesity: An emerging public health crisis in an urban city in South-South Nigeria. Annals of Clinical and Biomedical Research, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/acbr.2021.148