The Prevalence of Overweight/Obesity and Dyslipidemia Amongst a Group of Women Attending “August” Meeting

Abstract

Background: Obesity and dyslipidemia are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease while obesity is a leading determinant for hypertension and diabetes mellitus .The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of overweight/obesity and dyslipidemia amongst a group of women attending “August” meeting.
Methods: A total of 186 women attending the 2006 “August” meeting at Naze, Owerri North Local Government Area, Imo State, were recruited into the study but only 183 had complete data. The Blood Pressure (BP) was measured using a Standard Mercury Sphygmomanometer with appropriate cuff size. BMI was calculated as weight (in kilograms) divided by height (in
meters) squared. Based on the WHO classification overweight was defined as BMI between 25 and 29.9kg/m2, and obesity was defined as BMI>30kg/m2. Total serum cholesterol was determined by the method of Trinder 1969 , triglycerides by the method of Jacobs and van Demark 1960 while LDL-C and HDLC were determined by the method of Assmann, Jabs Kohnert et al 1984. Hypercholesterolemia was defined as total cholesterol
6.20mmol/L (240mg/dl), reduced HDL less than 1.29mmol/L (50mg/dl), Hypertriglyceridemia as triglycerides greater than 1.7mmol/L (150mg/dl) .
Result: The mean age is 54.84yrs ± 10.76, the mean BMI 26.47 ± 4.50, mean SBP 132.38mmHg ± 21.94, mean DBP 77.07mmHg ± 12.25, mean TC 5.29 mmol/L±1.76, mean HDL 1.14mmol/L ±0.83, mean LDL 1.39mmol/L ± 0.63, mean TG 1.49mmol/L ± 0.63. The prevalence of overweight was 38.5%, obesity 20.7%, hypertriglyceridemia 34.1%, hypercholesterolemia 31.4%, low HDL 37.6%, hypertension 44.3% and dyslipidemia 60.5%. BMI correlated with DBP r=.290, P <.000; TC r=.246, P<.001; LDL r=.172, P=.024 but did not correlate with age SBP, TG and HDL. Age correlated with SBP r=.321, P< .000 and LDL r=.163, P=.031.
TC correlated with SBP r=.370, P<.000, DBP r=.274, P<.000, TG r=.441, P<.000 LDL r=.757, P<.000 but did not correlate with HDL.
Conclusion: In conclusion this study has shown a high prevalence of Obesity/Overweight, Hypercholesterolemia, Hyperglyceridemia as well as low HDL amongst a group of women attending “August” meeting.

Niger Med J. Vol. 51, No. 4,Oct. – Dec., 2010: 155 – 159.

Keywords: August Meeting, Obesity, Overweight, Dyslipidemia, Igbo-speaking