Abstract
BackgroundOverweight and obesity are components of a defined cluster of risk factors for non-communicable diseases, once problems for only the high-income countries, in recent days became rampant in developing countries. Despite the lack of extensive data on metabolic and cardio vascular disorders in Ethiopia, the prevalence of obesity among young adults (15–24 years), in a cross sectional study conducted in 1997, was 0.7% for men and 6% for women. The prevalence of hypertension (HTN) was found to be 7.1% of the population. The objective of this study was to see the prevalence and association of overweight, obesity and HTN and to check if there was any agreement among the various anthropometric measurements in detecting overweight and obesity.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in Gondar city, Northwest Ethiopia. A total of 68 participants with age >18 year were randomly selected and included. Data were collected using questionnaires and through physical measurements of weight, height and blood pressure, using the WHO recommendations.ResultThe prevalence of hypertension was 13.3% (9/68). The prevalence of overweight based on calculated body mass index (BMI) was 32.4% (22/68) while the prevalence of obesity was 16.2% (11/68). Body fat percentage (BFP) effectively classified all of the ‘overweight’ and ‘obese’ values according to the BMI as ‘overweight/obese’ (P = 0.016). Risk level classification with waist circumference enabled to correctly classify most (90.9%) and all of the ‘overweight’ and ‘obese’ BMI values as ‘increased risk/substantially increased risk’ (P < 0.001). Similarly, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was able to classify all ‘overweight’ and ‘obese’ BMI values as ‘increased risk/substantially increased risk’ (P < 0.001).ConclusionIn conclusion, the current study was able to detect a high prevalence of overweight, obesity, and HTN among adult population in Gondar town. There is a prevalent high level of general adiposity and central obesity. WHtR and BFP were the most efficient measurements to identify all ‘high risk’ groups of individuals as ‘high risk’ irrespective of their gender. Further study is recommended to elucidate the risk factors and complications of obesity and overweight in the study area and beyond.
Highlights
Overweight and obesity are components of a defined cluster of risk factors for non-communicable diseases, once problems for only the high-income countries, in recent days became rampant in developing countries
In conclusion, the current study was able to detect a high prevalence of overweight, obesity, and HTN among adult population in Gondar town
Further study is recommended to elucidate the risk factors and complications of obesity and overweight in the study area and beyond
Summary
Overweight and obesity are components of a defined cluster of risk factors for non-communicable diseases, once problems for only the high-income countries, in recent days became rampant in developing countries. Cardiovascular diseases account for approximately 17 million deaths a year, nearly one third of the total [1]. Every year, complications of hypertension (HTN) account for 9.4 million deaths worldwide [2]. It is believed that HTN is responsible for at least 45% and 51% of deaths due to heart disease and stroke, respectively [1]. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global prevalence of overweight and obesity in 2008 among adults was more than 1.4 billion and more than half a billion, respectively. It is believed that 65% of the world’s population lives in a country where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight. It is estimated that at least 2.8 million people die as a result of being overweight or obese [5]
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