Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of obesity and overweight in a rural and urban community of Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

>Introduction: Urbanization has been linked to increasing prevalence of obesity.Objective: To determine the rural–urban differences in the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of obesity/overweight.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study of adults in Jesse (rural) and Warri (urban). Weight and height were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated.Results: A total of 866 respondents, 44.0% (rural) and 56.0% (urban) with a male: female ratio of 1:1 and 1:1.5; mean age (± standard deviation [SD]) was 47.1 (±19.0) years and 38.9 (±12.2) years, and mean BMI (±SD) was 22.64 (±3.52) kg/m2 and 24.89 (±5.14) kg for rural and urban populations, respectively. The overall prevalence of obesity and overweight was 10.9% and 20.9%, respectively, with urban (15.7% and 23.9%) being higher than rural (4.7% and 17.1%).Female respondents in both settings had a higher prevalence rate of overweight of 26.5% versus 19.9% (urban) and 17.3% versus 16.8% (rural) for females and males, respectively. The prevalence of obesity is highest among middle-aged (40–64 years) respondents in both settings. The difference in high BMI (≥25 kg/m2) between urban and rural setting in this age group was statistically significant (Chi-square [χ2] = 22.055, df = 1, P < 0.001). The urban–rural differences in the association between educational status and prevalence of obesity and overweight was significant (≤primary: χ2 = 18.970, df = 1, P < 0.001; secondary: χ2 = 9.064, df = 1, P = 0.003).Conclusion: The prevalence of obesity and overweight is high, being higher in the urban population. Obesity and overweight are more prevalent among females and middle-aged persons in both settings. The odds of having high BMI (≥25kg/m2) are highest among urban dwellers with a lower level of education.

Keywords

• Body mass index
• Nigeria
• obesity
• overweight
• rural–urban