title: Obesity prevalence in adult residents of Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few data on obesity exist on Sub-Sahara population in Africa. This study investigated the prevalence of obesity and Body Mass Index (BMI) percentile and quartiles in accordance with sex and age in adult residents of the historic ancient semi-urban community of Ile-Ife, South-West, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  2097 adults aged 21 years and above were recruited into the door-to-door survey through a multistage cluster sampling technique. The World Health Organization (WHO) criteria based on BMI was used in the definition of overweight and obesity. Height and weight were measured using standardized procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age and BMI of the participants were 44.2 years and 24.2 Kg/m2 respectively. Although age-matched; the females had higher BMI values compared to males (23.8 vs. 24.5 Kg/m2). The overall crude prevalence of overweight (25.0-29.9 Kg/m2) and obesity (>30 Kg/m2) were 20.3% and 12.5% respectively. The rates of overweight (17.9 vs. 22.1 Kg/m2) and obesity (9.7 vs. 14.5 Kg/m2) were both higher in women than men. Obesity increased across age gradient from young to old adults; peaking in the 60-69-year age group. The first to fourth BMI quartiles were = 20.4 Kg/m2, 20.5-24.1 Kg/m2, 24.2-25.2 Kg/m2, = 25.3 Kg/mr respectively in the study population. At all ages; more females (32.4%) than males (24.7%) were placed within fourth BMI quartile. The 95th percentile BMI in the study population was 33.4 Kg/m2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overweight and obesity are common in Nigerians, particular among females and elderly. The prevalence estimates of overweight and obesity in Nigerians is comparable with prevalence among Blacks in other populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. radedoyi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Rufus A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Adedoyin
authors.forename: Chidozie E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Mbada
authors.forename: Michael O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Balogun
authors.forename: Rasaaq A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Adebayo
authors.forename: Tanimola
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Saidu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ismail
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult