Abstract
BackgroundObesity is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and is growing rapidly globally including in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We aimed to assess the trend in adiposity markers in Cameroonian university students, and investigated their associations with hypertension.MethodsFrom 2009 to 2012, we annually measured weight, height, blood pressure, waist (WC) and hip circumferences, and calculated the body mass index (BMI) and other indices of adiposity in consecutive students aged 18 years or above, during their registration. Time-trends in prevalence of overweight and obesity were estimated, and their associations with prevalent hypertension investigated.ResultsAmong the 2726 participants, the overall prevalence of obesity, overweight and obesity combined, and hypertension was 3.5%, 21.0% and 6.3% respectively. From 2009 to 2012, the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased in men only, from 13.1% to 20.9% (p-trend = 0.002), whereas prevalent abdominal obesity increased in women only, from 6.5% to 11.7% (p-trend = 0.027). The BMI and the WC were independent predictors of hypertension; each kg/m2 higher BMI was associated with 11% higher odds of hypertension, and each centimeter higher WC was associated with 9% higher odds of hypertension.ConclusionOur results show that overweight and obesity are rapidly increasing in this population of young sub-Saharan African adults, and are contributing to an increasing burden of hypertension.
Highlights
Obesity is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and is growing rapidly globally including in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
The body mass index (BMI) and the Waist circumference (WC) were independent predictors of hypertension; each 1 kg/m2 increase in BMI was associated with 11% increase in the prevalence of hypertension, and each 1 cm increase in WC was associated with 9% rise in the prevalence of hypertension (Table 4)
We found in our study that the BMI and the WC were strong predictors of prevalent hypertension; each 1 kg/m2 increase in BMI was associated with 11% increase in the prevalence of hypertension, and each 1 cm increase in WC was associated with 9% rise in the prevalence of hypertension
Summary
Obesity is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and is growing rapidly globally including in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension and cancers are growing rapidly globally including in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) [1,2,3]. Obesity is a major risk factor for NCDs and is increasing rapidly. The ObEpi survey in France shows that the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults ≥18 years has risen from 46% in 2009 to 47% in 2012 [5]. The waist circumference increased from 94.8 cm to 95.1 cm in males and 85.5 cm to 86.5 cm in females; the ObEpi survey showed that compared with people with BMI < 25 kg/m2, people with overweight or obesity were 2.3 fold and 3.6 fold more at risk to have hypertension, respectively [5]
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