Adolescent malnutrition (underweight or overweight) not only impacts future adult physique and sense of self-esteem, it also affects future metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes [1]. Overweight and obesity are associated with risk of developing diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases [1].
The prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity has increased in the developed world. The same trend has been observed in developing countries in recent years. It has thus become necessary to track these changes in order to reverse the negative impact they portend on public health [2].
While there are several studies that have addressed childhood obesity in Nigeria, few have evaluated its occurrence in adolescents. Even among these studies are disparities, such as a 2007 study in Shagamu (south western Nigeria) showing a prevalence of overweight of 8.1% in males and 8.1% in females. It further showed a low prevalence of obesity of 2.7% in males and 1.9% in females. In contrast Another study in Ajoakuta (southwestern Nigeria) reported a higher figure of overweight/obesity as 17.3% [3,4]. This could be due to socioeconomic differences in sub populations studied. A study in Jos, Northern Nigeria found among males 17.2% was overweight, with 4.2% obese. Among women 23.5% were overweight and 4.5% were obese [5]. A study in the Niger delta southern Nigeria found 22.04% overweight and 49.34 % were obese [6]. In Abia southeastern Nigeria The prevalence of overweight/obesity in the population was 28.4% , contrast to another the report form in Imo south eastern Nigeria were prevalence of obesity was 6.0%,while in a community based study in Benue the prevalence of overweight was 9.7% and obesity 1.8% [7-9].
Attempts were made in developing a “gold standard” reference population for determining thinness, overweight and obesity. In 2007, the World Health Organization developed a reference population for classifying overweight and obesity based on the anthropometric measures of children and adolescents from some countries with average socioeconomic status. However these references are limited in their applicability because differences in growth pattern are seen across economic divides [10,11]. Thus while such a reference could be used in developing countries; a different standard would have to be used in developing countries.
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among secondary school adolescents in Kano, Nigeria, in accordance with World Health Organization standard reference.