ABSTRACT

The study adults determined the prevalence of overweight and obesity among 233 (128ma1es and 105 females) randomly selected from Umuahia North L.G.A. of Abia State. A structured and validated questionnaire was used to elicit information on socio-demographic characteristics, dietary practice and activity level. Their dietary intake and consumption pattern was determined using food frequency and weighed food intake. Anthropometric measurements of height, weight, MUAC, waist and hip circumference were taken while BMI and WHR were calculated. Lipid profile including TC, LDL, HDL, and TRG were estimated and blood pressure was measured. Data were analyzed using student t-test, mean (SD), frequencies, percentages, chi-.square & Pearon correlation coefficient. The result revealed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity using BMJ were 34.33% (35.94% males and 32.38% females) and 26.61% males and females 32.38%) respectively. The WHR classified majority of the subjects (69.53%) at risk of abdominal obesity. The prevalence of overweight occurred more in the males while obesity occurred more in the females. About 12.9% (13.3% in males and 12.4% in females) of the subjects were at stage 1 hypertension while 0.9% (1 .6% males none in females) of the. subjects were in stage 2 hypertension. Undesirable TC, LDL, HDL and TRG were found in 20%, 25%, 20% and 5% of the studied adults respectively. Age, weight and BMI were significantly and p positively associated with hypertension. The protein, BMR and energy intake of the males and females were comparable to standards while their carbohydrate and. fat intake did not meet the recommended standards. However, the energy expenditure and PAL of the males met the recommended standards while the females did not. The PAL showed that the majority of the adults (60%) were in the sedentary activity level. The low physical activity level and high prevalence of overweight and obesity represents a major public health concern among obese groups of adults.