Prevalence of obesity and ethnographic-geographic variation in body sizes of Nigerians with type 2 diabetes mellitus - a multi-centre study

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Date
2018-01
Authors
Balogun, W.O
Uloko, A.E
Ipadeola, A
Enang, O
Odeniyi, I
Fasanmade, O.A
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Excess weight gain is common in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) but little is known about itsethno-geographic variation among the Nigerian populace. We aimed to report the prevalence and regional variation of overweight/obesity among subjects with type 2 DM in all the six geo-political regions of Nigeria.METHOD:Basic demographic and anthropometric data were consecutively collected from patients with type 2 DM attending out-patient clinics of seven designated teaching hospitals in the six geographic regions of the country using a pre-agreed method of measurement of anthropometry including waist circumference. The study was hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional in design. Body Mass Index (BMI) was categorised using the WHO criteria. Based on recommendations of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) cut-off values for waist circumference, values >94 cm and > 80 cm were taken as abnormal for men and women respectively. RESULTS: A total of 709 subjects with DM comprising 378 (53.3%) females and 331 (46.7%) males (female: male ratio 1:1.14) with an overall mean age (SD) of 51.9 (13.9) years were evaluated. The prevalence of excess body weight among Nigerian subjects with type 2 DM was: peripheral (417 or 58.8%) and abdominal obesity (449 or 63.3%). Also, there was a significant wide variation in excess weight gain (both peripheral and central) across ethno-geographic regions (p=0.001) and between both sexes (p=0.001). In both peripheral and abdominal obesities, whether intra or inter centres, the female subjects with type 2 DM demonstrated relatively higher proportions of anthropometric measures. Generally, subjects from south-south and south-east Nigeria had higher BMI and abdominal obesity compared to those from south-west who had the lowest. The female subjects with type 2 DM were heavier peripherally and centrally compared to their male counterparts. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of peripheral and central obesity among Nigerians living with type 2 DM (especially the female subjects) is unacceptably high. Additionally, there is a wide variation in the proportion and absolute values of both peripheral and central obesity across different parts of Nigeria.
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Keywords
Obesity, Prevalence, ethno-geographic variation, Nigerians, type 2 diabetes mellitus
Citation
, Balogun WO, Uloko AE, Ipadeola A, Enang O, Adamu AN, Mubi BM, Okafor CI, Odeniyi I, Lawal IU, Adeleye JO, Fasanmade OA. Prevalence of obesity and ethnographic-geographic variation in body sizes of Nigerians with type 2 diabetes mellitus - a multi-centre study. Nigerian Journal Medicine 2018;27(1):69-77