Corresponding Author's Email Address: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT
Background: The association between excess weight and cardio-metabolic disease is widely recognized by the
medical profession as well as the general public
Objective: The study assessed the knowledge of risk factors of obesity among young females (reproductive age) in
Owo Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State.
Materials and methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on dietary habits and knowledge of risk factors from 500 young female adults. Knowledge of risk factors (RFs) was assessed on a 10-point scale and scored as low (≤3), average (≥4≤6), and high (≥7≤10). Central obesity was assessed using data from the waist and hip circumferences measured with non-flexible tape rule) waisthip ratio was calculated. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. In all cases, a probability of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Finding shows that 43.6% of the respondents were within the age range of 19-23years, 59.8% were single,
about 28.6% were able to eat 3times daily while 22.4% skipped meal with 13.0% skipping breakfast. Lack of physical
exercise (85%) and stress (47.5%) were the most identified risk factors of obesity. About 53.4% of the subjects had
low knowledge, 33.4% had average knowledge, while only 13.2% had high knowledge scores of obesity risk. There
was a significant difference between the mean waist circumference, waist circumference and waist-hip-ratio between
the urban and rural participants (P<0.05). More than half (53.2%) and 48.0% of the respondents had central obesity
using waist-hip ratio and waist circumference, respectively.
Conclusion: The study revealed that more than half of respondents display a lack of knowledge on risk factors of
obesity. Public health education should be geared towards educating women of reproductive age on the risk of obesity.
 

 

Keywords

Young Female Adult, obesity, stress, waist circumference, breakfast, meal skipping

Download Journal