Evaluation of blood pressure and indices of obesity in a typical rural community in eastern Nigeria

Abstract

The prevalence of both hypertension and obesity seems to be increasing in rural communities in Nigeria and thus, the available prevalence documented in previous studies for rural communities may no longer represent the current trend. Awareness of the participants about these major cardiovascular risk factors is still very low. Higher BMI was associated with higher values of both systolic and diastolic BP.

High prevalence of central obesity in rural South-Western Nigeria: Need for targeted prevention

“…Similar to previous local studies, both generalized and central obesity were more prevalent among the female population in the current study (Oladapo et al, 2010;Adediran et al, 2012;Iloh et al, 2012;Ahaneku et al, 2011;Adienbo et al, 2012;Desalu et al, 2008;Chukwuonye et al, 2013). A similar trend was reported by WHO (2008).…”

“…This is higher than the findings from an earlier study from rural South Western Nigeria and rural Northern Nigeria (Oladapo et al, 2010;Adediran et al, 2012). This study finding is however similar to findings from rural communities in South Eastern Nigeria (Ahaneku et al, 2011;Ulasi et al, 2010). The rising prevalence of obesity in rural areas is due to nutritional transition, coupled with transition away from agricultural (both for production and subsistence) to wage labour that has decreased the physical activity of people (McGarvey, 1991;Snodgrass et al, 2006).…”

“…However, it is similar to the findings from other studies with prevalence of obesity between 11.7 and 13.3% in rural communities in South. Eastern Nigeria (Ahaneku et al, 2011;Ulasi et al, 2010). The prevalence of overweight and global obesity in this study is lower than the findings among the Kalabaris from the South-South Nigeria (22.95 and 47.26%, respectively) (Adienbo et al, 2012).…”

“…In this study, the prevalence of obesity increases with age as reported by other workers (Oladapo et al, 2010;Iloh et al, 2012;Ahaneku et al, 2011). However, in a study by Adediran et al (2012), no association was found between obesity and age (Adediran et al, 2012).…”

“…There are many reports on obesity in rural Nigeria (Oladapo et al, 2010;Adediran et al, 2012;Iloh et al, 2012;Ahaneku et al, 2011). It is most reported that obesity was more prevalent among women; the magnitude of the problem among women compared to men was not stated.…”