Ezema C.I.1, Gift C.2, Chidubem A.1, Afamefuna Victor E.3, Charity A.2, Chinwe O.2
1University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Enugu, Nigeria, 2University of Nigeria, Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigreria, Department of Physiotherapy, Enugu, Nigeria, 3Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria
Background: Studies have shown that excessive body weight and obesity are associated with poor health status and are risk factors for many physical ailments such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, sleep disorder, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and osteoarthritis.
Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the disease risk and weight profile of adults in selected markets in Enugu State.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving measurement of height, weight and waist circumference of (400) adults in selected markets (New market, Ogbete market, Kenyeta market and Abakpa market) in Enugu State. The markets which are among the major markets in Enugu State were conveniently selected. The informed consent of the participants was duly obtained before involving them in the study, while ethical approval was obtained from the Research and Ethics Committee University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. The data was subjected to descriptive statistics of percentages using SPSS version 20.
Results: The BMI measurements showed that 3.25% was underweight, 46.5% normal weight, 27% overweight, 23.25% obese. Among the obese 16.5% had class I, 4.5% class II and 2.25% class III. The result on disease risk according to WC showed that 33% (23% males, 10% females) had very low risk; 27% (6% males, 21% females) had low risk; 16.75% (2.75% males, 14% females) had increased risk; 0% high risk; 21% (5.5% males, 15.5% females) very high; 2.25% (0.5% males, 1.75% females) extremely high risk.
Conclusion(s): It is concluded that there was high prevalence of obesity as well as increased disease risk among the participants studied.
Implications: The study revealed the risks of cardiovascular diseases among apparently healthy adults in Enugu State, Nigeria.
Funding acknowledgements: NIL.
Topic: Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing
Ethics approval: Ethical approval was obtained from Health Research and Ethics Committee University of Nigeria, Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
