Abstract P260: Low Physical Activity Level, Underweight and Abdominal Obesity among Nigerian Rural Adolescents; Implication for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program among Rural Adolescents in Nigeria

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a global health problem. Studies have shown that the majority of people dying from CVD have one or more major risk factors that are influenced by lifestyle. Major predisposing risk factors include obesity, physical inactivity, abdominal obesity. These risk factors have been seen in adolescents in developed countries. Throughout the world the risks are starting to appear earlier. Adolescence is a critical temporal window for the development of obesity in adult age. Researchers have advocated that children and adolescent populations should be the target for cardiovascular risk factors prevention programs, however, there is paucity of information on these risk factors especially among rural adolescents. It is a general belief in Nigeria that rural dwellers are active, consume natural foods as such CVD and other chronic diseases may not be highly prevalent among rural people However, primordial prevention for cardiovascular is needed even in rural communities since prevention is better than cure. The study aimed to ascertain selected CVD risk factors such as physical activity level, BMI Waist Hip ratio and dietary pattern of adolescents in rural Nigeria The study was a cross sectional survey of 1079 adolescents aged 15-18 years, attending schools at Ibarapa central local government of South West Nigeria. Ethical approval was sought and obtained from Stellenbosch University ethics committee, approval from the local Education authority and principals of the selected schools. Informed consent was obtained from the principals of the schools who acted in place of the parents and guardians who were not in the community and also from parents within the community. Assent was obtained from adolescents either written or verbal. CVD risk factors were assessed using standard measures .Result shows 23% of adolescents are underweight, 75% normal weight and 1.4% overweight. Waist hip ratio of 84.6% of adolescents are normal, 15.4% abdominal obesity, for physical activity level; 27.9% had low physical activity level, 36.5% moderate physical activity level and 35.6% high physical activity level. More female had low activity level compared to male, 63.5% compared to 36.5% The adolescents generally have bad dietary pattern such as high fat consumption, low fruit and vegetable intake Underweight is still a major problem among rural adolescents. Many of the rural adolescents are not active enough to safeguard their future health. Sedentary living is more among female than male. Although these rural adolescents are not generally obese but there is a high prevalence of abdominal obesity, low fruit and vegetable consumption which is associated with cardiovascular disease Implication; there is need for CVD primordial and primary prevention program for Nigerian rural adolescents