title: Prevalence of obesity among adolescents in Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria using body mass index and waist hip ratio: A comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is a global epidemic not just among adults but also among children and adolescents. This study described the prevalence and pattern of obesity among in-school adolescents in Ile-Ife, Osun State using two standard methods, Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) with a view of comparing the two methods as well as identifying any correlation between the two methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred male and female respondents, aged 10-19 years, were randomly selected through a multistage sampling technique from private and public schools in Ife Central Local Government Area. Quantitative data were collected with the aid of a pre-tested, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements of respondents, BMI and WHR, were recorded. Chi square and linear regression analyses were used. Statistical significance was tested at the 5% level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of obesity was 4.2% using BMI of which 12 (57.1%) were females and nine (42.9%) were males. There was significant association between sex and BMI, χ(2) = 9.490 (P = 0.020). Using WHR, the prevalence was 37.2% of which 180 (96.8%) were females and six (3.2%) were males. There was also significant association between sex and WHR (P < 0.001). Weak correlation (r = 0.02) was found between BMI and WHR among the females, P = 0.043.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a difference in the prevalence of obesity using the two methods. Although, the correlation between the two methods was weak among females, WHR yielded a higher prevalence for obesity with remarkable difference especially among the females. Prevention of adolescent obesity should be encouraged especially among females.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adedayo O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Sabageh
authors.forename: Ebenezer O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Ojofeitimi
keywords: Adolescents; body mass index; comparative; obesity; pattern; prevalence; waist hip ratio
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