Nutritional status and Cardiometabolic health among adolescents; findings from southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Obesity has been associated with an increased risk for cardio-metabolic diseases. The prevalence of obesity among adolescents is increasing worldwide, including Nigeria, but only little data exist on the relationship of nutritional status with cardio-metabolic health among adolescents in Nigeria. This study therefore investigated the relationship of nutrition status, raised blood pressure, glucose intolerance and risk for metabolic diseases among adolescents in southwestern Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 313 in-school adolescents in Ile-Ife, southwestern Nigeria. The respondents were selected using multi-stage sampling technique, and data were collected using pretested structured questionnaires. Anthropometric, blood pressure and random blood glucose measurements were done using standard protocols. Nutritional assessment was done using the World Health Organization (WHO) 2007 reference. Pre-hypertension and hypertension were measured using percentiles for gender, age and height. Analysis was done using IBM SPSS and the level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 14.4 ± 2.0 years. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 10.2%, and it was significantly higher among females (12.5%) than males (7.0%). The prevalence of systolic and diastolic pre-hypertension was 10.9 and 11.5% respectively, while the prevalence for systolic and diastolic hypertension were 14.4 and 8.6% respectively. Using WHtR to assess cardio-metabolic risk, 7.3% of the respondents were at risk. There were statistically significant relationships between BMI, WHtR and blood pressure levels (< 0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of overweight/obesity among the adolescents was relatively high, and this was significantly associated with elevated blood pressure and increased risk for cardio-metabolic diseases. There is need for more interest and intervention by stakeholders into the cardio-metabolic health of adolescents in Nigeria.

Paediatric Hypertension in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Of the 53 studies, 37 reported obesity and/or overweight prevalence in their respective samples [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] , [43] , [44] , [45] , [46] , [47] , [48] , [49] , [50] , [51] , [52] , [53] , [54] , [55] , [56] , [57] , [58] , [59] , [60] , [61] , [62] , [63] , [64] , [65] , [66] , [67] , [68] , [69] , [70] , with the prevalence of obesity ranging from 0·3% to 50% These studies consistently found a higher prevalence of elevated BP and/or hypertension in participants with obesity, overweight, or central obesity. A case-control study where authors compared prevalence of hypertension in children with and with out obesity found that only the children in the obesity group had hypertension (25%), and this group had significantly more cases of elevated BP than the non-obesity group (19·4% vs 6·5%) (Chedjou-Nono et al [68] ).…”

“…A case-control study where authors compared prevalence of hypertension in children with and with out obesity found that only the children in the obesity group had hypertension (25%), and this group had significantly more cases of elevated BP than the non-obesity group (19·4% vs 6·5%) (Chedjou-Nono et al [68] ). Additionally, three studies found that more than 20% of children with obesity or adolescents had hypertension (Emmanuel et al [59] , Adeomi et al [63] , Ibrahim et al [56] ). Similarly, Muhihi et al reported 17.2% of overweight and having obesity children and or adolescents had elevated BP [41] .…”

Paediatric Hypertension in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…A case-control study where authors compared prevalence of hypertension in children with and with out obesity found that only the children in the obesity group had hypertension (25%), and this group had significantly more cases of elevated BP than the non-obesity group (19¢4% vs 6¢5%) (Chedjou-Nono et al [68]). Additionally, three studies found that more than 20% of children with obesity or adolescents had hypertension (Emmanuel et al [59], Adeomi et al [63], Ibrahim et al [56]). Similarly, Muhihi et al reported 17.2% of overweight and having obesity children and or adolescents had elevated BP [41].…”

Adolescents’ nutritional status and its association with academic performance in South Ethiopia; a facility-based cross-sectional study

“…Three non-consecutive days 24-h recall of adolescents’ consumption of commonly consumed foods in the area was used to collect information on the DDS [ 23 ]. Foods were categorized into 10 groups based on FAO recommendations [ 1 ]; starch stable food [ 2 ], vegetables, 3) fruits [ 4 ], meat [ 5 ], egg [ 6 ], fish and other sea foods [ 7 ], legumes, nuts and seeds [ 8 ], milk and milk products [ 9 ], oil and fats [ 10 ], sweets, spices, condiments and beverage [ 26 ]. The response categories were “Yes” if at least one food item in the group was consumed and “No” when a food item in the group was not consumed.…”