CLINICAL CORRELATES OF OBESITY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN NORTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Adolescents constitute a huge proportion of the world’s population. Adolescent obesity has globally increased to significant levels with serious public health consequences. The epidemic of obesity has major complications for health care now and in the future. Obesity is a major risk factor for a number of chronic medical conditions. As the obese adolescent grows into an obese adult, the morbidity and mortality associated with obesity occur with an increased risk. This was a cross-sectional school-based study conducted in Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria. The secondary schools were selected via simple random sampling and the participants were recruited using systematic sampling method. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the participants’ demographics and their height, weight, and blood pressure were measured. Furthermore, their blood samples were taken for blood glucose and lipid profile estimation. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 21 and a p-value of <0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. A total of 150 adolescents participated in the study. The prevalence of obesity was 14.0% and overweight was 21.3%. Only 1.3% of the participants had diastolic hypertension, 12% had hyperglycemia and 8.7% had hyperlipidemia. There was a statistically significant association between obesity and hyperlipidemia (x2 = 9.23, p = 0.03). Adolescent obesity poses a greater risk for the development of some major chronic disorders. Prompt management of obesity in adolescence is key to curtailing the menace of obesity for the present and future health of the populace.