Dietary Practice, Food Security And Anthropometric Status Of Non-Academic Senior Staff In Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike (Mouau):- Daniel, Vera N

ABSTRACT

The study examined the dietary practice, food security and anthropometric status of non-academic senior staff in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Three hundred and fifty-nine (359) respondents were selected using simple random sampling and systematic sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was also used to determine their socio-economic status, dietary habit, lifestyle characteristics and dietary diversity. Household food insecurity assess scale questionnaire was used to assess food security. Anthropometric status ofthe respondents was assess using BMI and waist hip ratio. Correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between dietary practice, food security and Anthropometric status of the respondents. The result showed more than half (59.9%) of the respondents are aged 36-46, (81.1%) of the respondents were married, (74.7%) of the respondent live in the urban. Majority (82.7%) of the respondents ate three times. More than half(61.3%) ofthe respondents’ skip meal, meal skipped, (56.4%) skip breakfast. The study showed that (69.5%) skip meal because limited time to prepare food. The study showed that majority (86.1%) of the respondents do not smoke while 85.8% never smoked. A little above half (52.6%) of the respondents consume alcohol and (51.5%) of the respondents are current drinker. The study showed cereals was the most consumed food. The study showed that one-fourth of the respondents were food secured. More than half (55.2%) of the respondents were overweight while 73% of the female respondents were at risk of cardiovascular diseases. Based on the findings, recommendations were made that regular physical activity for staff is important for them to maintain good health.