Market Place Dietary Habits, Physical Activity Pattern and Anthropometric Status of Market Women in Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Activities in the market place, an occupational environment where traders spend bulk of their productive years, has the capacity to influence the dietary/lifestyle habits and anthropometric status of market women.
Objectives: This study was designed to assess the market place dietary habits, physical activity level and anthropometric status of market women in Abia State.
Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 1,360 female traders from eight (8) daily markets in Abia State. Pretested questionnaire was administered to elicit information on the respondents' market place dietary habits and physical activity level. Body Mass Index and Waist Hip Ratio was determined and categorized using recommended standards. All analysis was done using SPSS version 25.
Results: Results revealed that the dietary habits of female traders in Abia state were characterized by breakfast skipping (60.3%), eating out (63.4%), consumption of carbonated drinks (61.6%) and confectionaries/pastries (meatpie-77.2%, cake-69.9%, bread /doughnut-69.9%). Market place physical activity pattern mainly comprised the daily use of commercial/personal vehicles to work (84.0%), long hours spent in sitting (>3hours – 61.0%) and sitting to attend to customers (30.1%). More than a quarter of the respondents were obese (26.0%) or at high risk of obesity (30.9%).
Conclusion: The respondents had poor dietary habits and low/sedentary physical activity level in the market. Also a good number of them were obese. Increased awareness on the impact of market place activities on health and nutrition will stimulate healthier dietary and lifestyle practices.