Effectiveness of Nutritional Counseling in the Management of Overweight/Obesity in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

A healthy diet is essential for optimal nutritional and health status and the prevention of chronic disease. However, poor diet contributes to the growing epidemics of overweight/obesity and chronic disease both in the developed and developing countries. Furthermore, most individuals lack nutrition knowledge necessary to develop healthier eating patterns. Weight control is considered the best non-medical means of managing overweight/obesity. Improving nutritional knowledge in individuals is also an appropriate strategy. Thus, this study presents the effectiveness of nutritional counseling in the management of overweight/obesity in an urban area in Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive clinic-based study was done using a validated interviewer-administered questionnaire to collect information from men and women aged 18-65 years. The effectiveness of nutritional counseling on weight reduction was evaluated; nutrition knowledge, food consumption, behavioural patterns and anthropometry of the overweight/obese individuals were assessed. The findings showed a significant reduction in the body mass index (BMI) within the short duration of intervention indicating a positive correlation between nutritional counseling therapy and nutritional status. Thus, the study postulated nutrition therapy as an important strategy in weight reduction. In addition, the study confirmed an existing evidence of an association between poor dieting and lack of physical exercise as predictors of overweight/obesity. Hence, adequate nutritional counseling and patient involvement in self care plan may be considered positive factors in obesity management.