Body Mass Index and Blood Pressure Pattern of Students
in a Nigerian University
Kenneth E Oghagbon1, Valentine U Odili2*,
Eze K Nwangwa3, Kevin E Pender3
1Department
of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine,
College of Health Sciences, Delta State University,
Abraka, Nigeria.
2Department
of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of
Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.
3Department
of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences,
College of Health Sciences, Delta State University,
Abraka, Nigeria.
.
*For Correspondence:
Email:
vuodili@yahoo.com
Received:
05-Jul-08 Revised:
10-Sep-08 Accepted:
01-Mar-09
International Journal of Health Research,
June
2009; 2(2):
177-182 (e2210p73-78)
Original
Research Article
Abstract
Purpose:
Reports in Nigeria and other developing countries have
indicated a rise in the prevalence of obesity among
adults. In identifying at what age in our environment
obesity starts becoming a problem, we measured the
burden of overweight and obesity among young adults.
Methods:
Four hundred and sixty four undergraduate students, who
were undergoing medical examination as part of admission
process, were recruited. Their weight, height and blood
pressure (BP) were measured and their body mass index
(BMI) was calculated. The prevalence of obesity,
overweight and under-nutrition among these students were
determined according to international guidelines.
Results:
The
prevalence of obesity (3.4%) and under-nutrition (3.1%)
among the students, were similar. Female students had
higher prevalence of obesity (4.02%) and under-nutrition
(3.1%) than the males. Overweight was found to be
commoner in male subjects (26.78%) than in females
(20.98%). The prevalence of hypertension was 3.4% in the
study population and was commoner in males (5.9%) than
in females (0.89%). Mean systolic blood pressure and
diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher in
males than females (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Obesity
and under-nutrition are prevalent among the fresh
undergraduate students. As part of the orientation
programme for fresh undergraduate students in Nigerian
Universities, nutrition education should be carried out.
The need to always conduct blood pressure monitoring for
all University students is also recommended.
Keywords:
Body mass index; Blood pressure; Obesity; University
students; Nigeria.
