Underweight, overweight and obesity amongst young adults in Ota, Nigeria

Chinedu, S. N. and Emiloju, Opeyemi C. (2014) Underweight, overweight and obesity amongst young adults in Ota, Nigeria. Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology, 6 (7). pp. 236-238. ISSN 2006-9723

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Abstract

The pattern of body weight abnormality amongst persons in their early adulthood in Ota, Southwest Nigeria was investigated. A total of 341 healthy young adults (194 male; 147 female), aged 20 – 35 years participated in the study. Anthropometric measurements and WHO cut-offs were used to categorize their body weights into normal weight, underweight, overweight and obesity. Males were significantly (p<0.05) bigger in size (weight and height) than females. Body weight abnormality was higher in females (36.0%) than males (23.7%). Underweight was prevalent (12.9%) amongst females but low (2.6%) in males; 2.7% of females were severely underweight. The most prevalent abnormality was overweight (19.7% in females; 18.6% in males) whereas obesity was the least (3.4% in females; 2.6% in males). Gender differences appear to influence the body weights of the young adults in Ota, Nigeria. The study suggests a dual challenge of malnutrition and over-nutrition amongst females

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	BMI, body weight abnormality, underweight, overweight, obesity, early adulthood.
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences
Depositing User:	Mrs Patricia Nwokealisi
Date Deposited:	27 Nov 2015 10:57
Last Modified:	27 Nov 2015 10:57
URI:	http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/5681

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