ABSTRACT

This study assessed the feeding pattern and obesity risk of older persons in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State. A cross-sectional survey was used. Random sampling technique was used to select five (5) communities from the twenty (20) communities, using balloting. From each of the communities, sixty (60) older adults were selected, making a total of 300 older adults as the sample size. The older adult persons were selected from their homes using purposive sampling technique. A structured, validated questionnaire was the instrument for data collection and was divided into seven (7) sections: section A: Socio-demographic data, section B: Dietary habits, section C: Lifestyle pattern, section D: assessment of obesity risk, section E: 24-hour diet recall section F: food frequency questionnaire, and section G: anthropometric measurements. And their anthropometry data collected. Data generated from the questionnaires were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Service Solution (SPSS), version 20. Frequencies and percentages were used to analyze the data on the feeding pattern, nutritional status, as well as risk factors associated with obesity among the older persons, and chi-square was used to identify the existence of a relationship between dietary pattern and obesity risk. A P-value less than 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Findings from the study showed that there were 66.3% males and 33.7% females. Majority of the older persons (46.3%) were between 65 and 70 years of age, 22.3% were between and 65 years of age, 17.7% were between 70 and 75years old, 10.7% were between 75 and 80 years old while 3.0% were 80 years old and above. Some of the older persons (47.0%) ate 3 times daily, some of them (44.7%) often skipped their breakfast, many of them (54.7%) skipped meals because of lack of time to eat the food due to their predominant farming activities. Many of the respondents (46.3%) eat fruits twice a week, while 30.7% consume fruits once a week, 14.0% rarely and 9.0% consume fruits daily. The body mass index (BMI) shows that some of the older persons (47.0%) had between 25.00-29.99kg/m2 which implies overweight, 32.7% had between 30.00-39.99kg/m2 which implies obesity, 14.7% had between 18.50-24.99kg/m2 which implies normal weight, 4.7% had above 40.00kg/m2 The study found that several older adults skip meals, particularly breakfast and there was an appreciable frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption among the respondents. However, there was also a remarkably high frequency of consumption of fatty/sugary foods, as well as heavy meals and pastries which have been identified as factors which predispose to overweight and obesity. In addition, more than half of the older adults were at a very low risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other risks associated with obesity. In terms of the relationship between dietary pattern and obesity risk, it was observed that increase in consumption of bread/pasta/cereals, milk and milk products, as well as fat and oil foods had significant relationship with obesity risk.