Socioeconomic status and obesity in Abia State, South East Nigeria

Innocent Ijezie Chukwuonye,¹ Abali Chuku,² Ikechi Gareth Okpechi,³ Ugochukwu Uchenna Onyeonoro,⁴ Okechukwu Ojoemelam Madukwe,⁵ Godwin Oguejiofor Chukwuebuka Okafor,⁶ Okechukwu Samuel Ogah<sup>5,7

1</sup>Division of Renal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, ²Department of Ophthalmology, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Nigeria; ³Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; ⁴Department of Community Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, ⁵Ministry of Health, Nnamdi Azikiwe Secretariat, ⁶Department of Community Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Nigeria; ⁷Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria


Background and objectives: Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease in developed and emerging economies. There is a paucity of data from Nigeria on the association between socioeconomic status and obesity. The aim of this study is to highlight that association in Abia State, South East Nigeria.
Material and method: This was a cross-sectional survey in South East Nigeria. Participating subjects were recruited from the three senatorial zones of Abia state. A total of 2,487 adults took part in the study. The subjects were classified based on their monthly income and level of educational attainment (determinants of obesity). Monthly income was classified into three groups: low, middle, and upper income, while educational level was classified into four groups: no formal education, primary, secondary, and tertiary education. Body mass index of subjects was determined and used for defining obesity. Data on blood pressure and other anthropometric measurements were also collected using a questionnaire, modified from the World Health Organization STEPwise Approach to Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance.
Results: Overall, the prevalence of obesity in low, middle, and upper income groups was 12.2%, 16%, and 20%, respectively. The overall prevalence of obesity in individuals with no formal education, primary, secondary, and tertiary education was 6.3%, 14.9%, 10.5%, and 17.7%, respectively. Educational status was found to be significantly associated with obesity in women, but not in men, or in the combined group. However, level of income was observed to be significantly associated with obesity in men, women, and in the combined group.
Conclusion: Sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors are important determinants of obesity in our study population, and therefore may be indirectly linked to the prevalence and the outcomes of cardiovascular disease in Nigeria.

Keywords: obesity, body mass index, BMI, income, education, socioeconomic status, Naira (₦)