Obesity prevalence and its associated factors in an urban and rural area of Abuja Nigeria

Adediran Olufemi Sola¹, Okpara Ihunanya Chinyere¹*, Adeniyi Olasupo Stephen², Jimoh Ahmed Kayode³

¹Department of Internal Medicine, P. M. B. 102119, Benue State University Makurdi, Nigeria.

²Department of Physiology, P. M. B. 102119, Benue State University Makurdi, Nigeria

³Department of Chemical Pathology, Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria

*Corresponding author E-mail: iokparajubilee@yahoo.com; Phone: 08037067040

Accepted 28 June, 2012

Abstract

There is a global rise in the prevalence of obesity in both developed and developing countries reaching epidemic levels. It has therefore become an important health issue globally. This study aims at determining the prevalence of obesity in an urban and rural area in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja – Nigeria. In a cross sectional community based study, and by a stratified random sampling method, 229 subjects were selected. A pretested structured questionnaire was administered to obtain sociodemographic characteristics. Anthropometric data were measured by standard methods. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated and in conjunction with waist WC were used as measures of obesity. The overall prevalence of  obesity was 22.3%. Prevalence rates were higher in the urban area than rural area (40.7% versus 4.3%, χ2 =43.81,p <0.001). Obesity was more prevalent in women than men (36.2% versus 8.0%, χ2 = 26.37, p<0.001) and was significantly associated with little or no education (OR= 3.100, p = 0.001). The prevalence of obesity in the urban area was much higher than in the rural area. This was mainly due to nutritional transition and lack of education.

Keywords: Obesity, prevalence, urban, rural.