Affluence and adolescent obesity in a city in south-east Nigerian: A cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background: Pediatric obesity is becoming a public health challenge in both developed and developing countries. While poverty is a known risk factor for pediatric obesity in developed countries, the role of socioeconomic class in developing countries remains unclear. This study aims to determine the prevalence of adolescent obesity in Enugu, south-east Nigeria, and relate same to socioeconomic class. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of adolescents aged 10-19 years in Enugu metropolis. The participants were enrolled by multistage sampling method. Their weights and heights were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The participants were classified as obese, overweight, and normal using age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles. Socioeconomic class was determined using parental income and educational level. Data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Results: A total of 2,419 participants were included in the study (1,242 males and 1,177 females). Their mean age was 14.80 ± 2.07 years. The prevalence rates of obesity and overweight were 5.7% and 7.2%, respectively. Females were more likely to be overweight and obese [odds ratio (OR) = 2.55, P < 0.001, OR = 2.66, P < 0.001, respectively]. Adolescents from the upper socioeconomic class were more likely to be obese [OR = 2.57, P < 0.001, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.80–3.67]. Conclusion: Adolescent obesity in Enugu, south-east Nigeria, is more common among children from the upper socioeconomic class.