Overweight and Type II Diabetes among the Elderly Middle Belt Nigerians

Abstract

Background: The increasing rate of obesity and type-2 diabetes (T2DM) are impending major threats to the health of African Population but the magnitude of the two in middle age Nigerians is not known. We assessed the burden of obesity and T2DM among elderly middle belt Nigerians. Methods: A cross sectional prospective study was conducted among the population living in Lafia town. After biodata and clinical examination, including arthrometric measurements of weight and height was conducted. Standard BMI was calculated. A casual glucose and fasting blood glucose was determined using serum enzymatic glucose oxidase method. The diagnostic criteria were taken as fasting glucose at ≥ 7.0mmol/L and casual glucose at ≥ 11.1mmol/L. Results: In Lafia town the prevalence of Class I obesity was 62.6% there is a perfect correlation of 1.000 between BMI and glucose, meaning that as the BMI of a person increases, blood glucose concentration always increases and vice versa. The correlation between age and glucose concentration (0.0447) reflects a very weak positive relationship, indicating that BMI may differ at different ages. i.e. as the age of a patient increases, there is a slight tendency that the BMI may also increase. Conclusion: This study showed high risk of T2DM and obesity among middle belt Nigerians living in Lafia town due to sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise in addition to indiscriminate diet. There is need for regular screening for diabetes and hypertension. Use of portable electronic BP machine is advocated. There should be lifestyle modification like regular exercise, control of excessive alcohol intake and dietary advice.