Anthropometric indices and factors affecting dietary practices of diabetics attending Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Southwest, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Nutritional care is an important part of the overall medical management of patients with diabetes which plays a key role in the improvement, prevention and control of blood glucose level.

Objective: The study assessed the dietary practices, and anthropometric status of type 2 diabetics attending Federal Medical Centre Owo.

Methods: A random sampling method was used to select 70 respondents whose socio-demographic characteristics, dietary habits and factors affecting dietary practices were obtained via structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were taken and used to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI), and Waist Hip Ratio (WHR). Descriptive and inferential statistics were analysed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Significance was accepted at p < 0.05.

Results: A total of 35.7% of the respondents were in-patients while 64.3% were out-patients. More than half (60%) of the male respondents were diabetics. The feeding frequency per day for majority (54.3%) of the respondents (in- patients and out-patients) was three times; breakfast and lunch were consumed by 34.3% and 45.7%, respectively. Fruits and vegetables were mostly consumed in-between meal, 36.1% and 30%, respectively. Only 17.1% of the respondents skipped breakfast. More than half (61.4%) forgot to plan their meal, 41.4% missed the previous day diet planning, 68.6% forgot to comply to diet regimen while 62.9% stopped diet plan. A total of 45.7% and 7.1% of the participants were overweight and obese, respectively.

Conclusion: To improve nutritional care in hospitals, effective nutrition training and continuing education for all staff involved in nutritional care of patients must be prioritized.

Keywords: Diabetes care, dietary practices, anthropometry, meal skipping