Original research: obesity prevalence and metabolic differences between obese and non-obese school adolescents in south-western Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Adolescent obesity is increasingly more common in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria. Obesity has been associated with metabolic derangement in adolescents in developed countries. This study compared the metabolic parameters in obese and non-obese adolescents in a developing country.

Method: A cross-sectional study was performed on 1 000 adolescents selected by multi-stage sampling from eight secondary schools in Osun State, south-western Nigeria. Socio-demographic information was collected with the aid of a questionnaire. Using the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) body mass index (BMI) cut-off points, 29 obese adolescents were identified, and 29 suitably matched controls selected. The means for the anthropometric indices [height, weight and waist circumference (WC)], as well as blood pressure (BP), fasting blood glucose and the blood lipid levels of the obese and non-obese participants were compared using an independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Data were analysed using SPSS® 16.0 version. A p-value < 0.05 was taken to be statistically significant.

Results: The mean age of the respondents was 13.7 years (standard deviation 2.04). Eight of 100 (7.7%) respondents were overweight and 2.9% obese. More female than male adolescents were overweight or obese. The means for the anthropometric indices and BP increased in general across the spectrum of weight categories, from normal weight to obese. Weight, BMI, WC, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the obese adolescents than in the non-obese controls. The controls had a significantly higher mean high-density lipoprotein value (1.46 mmol/l) than the obese adolescents (1.21 mmol/l).

Conclusion: Obese adolescents are at higher risk of metabolic diseases than non-obese adolescents. Obese adolescents in low- to middle-income countries should be targeted to adopt lifestyle changes.

Keywords:

• adolescent
• International Obesity Task Force (IOTF)
• obese
• obesity
• metabolic

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships which may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this paper.

Declaration

Appreciation is extended to the management of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex for partly funding the work of the first author with respect to the thesis that she undertook as a resident there.

Acknowledgement

The authors wish to acknowledge the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Osun State; and the local inspectorates of education, principals, teachers and students involved in the project. They also appreciate the contribution made by doctors, nurses, other health workers and students in the data collection process.