title: Prevalence and time trends in obesity among adult West African populations: a meta-analysis.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of and trends in obesity in adult West African populations. Between February and March 2007, a comprehensive literature search was conducted using four electronic databases. Journal hand searches, citations and bibliographic snowballing of relevant articles were also undertaken. To be included, studies had to be population-based, use well-defined criteria for measuring obesity, present data that allowed calculation of the prevalence of obesity and sample adult participants. Studies retrieved were critically appraised. Meta-analysis was performed using the DerSimonian-Laird random effect model. Twenty-eight studies were included. Thirteen studies were conducted in urban settings, 13 in mixed urban/rural and one in rural setting. Mean body mass index ranged from 20.1 to 27.0 kg(2). Prevalence of obesity in West Africa was estimated at 10.0% (95% CI, 6.0-15.0). Women were more likely to be obese than men, odds ratios 3.16 (95% CI, 2.51-3.98) and 4.79 (95% CI, 3.30-6.95) in urban and rural areas respectively. Urban residents were more likely to be obese than rural residents, odds ratio 2.70 (95% CI, 1.76-4.15). Time trend analyses indicated that prevalence of obesity in urban West Africa more than doubled (114%) over 15 years, accounted for almost entirely in women. Urban residents and women have particularly high risk of overweight/obesity and obesity is rising fast in women. Policymakers, politicians and health promotion experts must urgently help communities control the spread of obesity in West Africa.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK. A.abubakari@dundee.ac.uk
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Abubakari
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lauder
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agyemang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bhopal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000354:Africa, Western / Q000453:epidemiology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D012737:Sex Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends