Innocent Ijezie Chukwuonye
Nigeria
Research Article
Body Mass Index, Prevalence and Predictors of Obesity in Urban and Rural Communities in Abia State South Eastern Nigeria
Author(s): Innocent Ijezie Chukwuonye, Abali Chuku, Ugochukwu Onyeonoro, Andrew Ukegbu, Ernest Anyabolu, Ikechi Okpechi, Okechukwu O. Madukwe and Okechukwu Samuel OgahInnocent Ijezie Chukwuonye, Abali Chuku, Ugochukwu Onyeonoro, Andrew Ukegbu, Ernest Anyabolu, Ikechi Okpechi, Okechukwu O. Madukwe and Okechukwu Samuel Ogah
Background and objectives: Obesity is assuming an epidemic dimension globally. Currently more than 1.9 billion adults are overweight - and at least 600 million of them are obese. There is dearth of community based study on prevalence and predictors of obesity in Nigeria, and none from Abia state in particular, prompting us to undertake the study. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, aimed at ascertaining the prevalence and predictors of obesity in the state. The study subjects were recruited from the three senatorial zones in the state. In each of the zones, an urban and a rural community were randomly selected. The World Health Organization Stepwise Approach to Surveillance of chronic disease risk factors was used. Body mass index, anthropometric measurements, and other relevant data were also coll.. View More»
