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Trends in Weight Abnormality of School Children and Adolescents in Nigeria

2012; Volume: 12; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3923/jms.2012.239.243

1812-5727

Shalom Nwodo Chinedu, Okwuchukwu K. Eboji, Opeyemi Christianah Emiloju,

Birth, Development, and Health

The objective of this study was to determine the pattern of weight abnormality in school children and adolescents in Ota, Nigeria. A total of 926 subjects (male: 357; female: 569) aged 2-19 years, randomly selected from schools in Ota, Nigeria, participated in the study. The subjects were divided into five age groups: early childhood (2-5 years), middle childhood (6-9 years), late childhood (10-12 years), early adolescence (13-16 years) and late adolescence (17 -19 years). Body mass indices (BMI) were calculated as 'weight(kg)/height(m)''; body weights were defined using CDC age- and sex-specific BJ'v:li cut-offs. Weights and heights of subjects increased proportionately with age, indicative of a progressive growth pattern. Abnormal body weights occwred in 22.4% of the subjects (nnderweight, 9.0%; overweight, 9.1 %; obesity, 4.3%). Weight abnormality reduced as the age of subjects increased; it was 43.8, 31.1, 20.0, 19.5 and 17 .7%, respectively for early childhood, middle childhood, late childhood, early adolescence and late adolescence. Underweight occlUTed most in early childhood while overweight and obesity peaked at middle childhood. Weight deficiency was higher in males (10.4%) than females (7 .9%) whereas weight excess was 12.6% in males and 13.9% in females. The study showed that weight deficiency and weight excess co-exist in School children and adolescents in Ota, Nigeria. Whereas weight deficiency due to rmder-nutrition prevailed in early childhood, weight excess resulting from over-nutrition was more prevalent in the older children and adolescents