Prevalence of central obesity in Nigeria: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Adult obesity diagnostic tool: A narrative review

Obesity is a complex chronic metabolic disorder characterized by abnormalities in lipid metabolism. Obesity is not only associated with various chronic diseases but also has negative effects on physiological functions such as the cardiovascular, endocrine and immune systems. As a global health problem, the incidence and prevalence of obesity have increased significantly in recent years. Therefore, understanding assessment methods and measurement indicators for obesity is critical for early screening and effective disease control. Current methods for measuring obesity in adult include density calculation, anthropometric measurements, bioelectrical impedance analysis, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, computerized imaging, etc. Measurement indicators mainly include weight, hip circumference, waist circumference, neck circumference, skinfold thickness, etc. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the literature to date, summarizes and analyzes various assessment methods and measurement indicators for adult obesity, and provides insights and guidance for the innovation of obesity assessment indicators.

Weight biases, body image and obesity risk knowledge in the groups of nursing students from Poland and Nigeria

Each population may have its own specific characteristics and cultural differences, which can affect perceptions of one's body, obesity, and the development of weight-related biases. The goal of our study is to (I) examine weight biases among incoming nursing students from two distinct cultures; (II) determine whether the cultural differences may be reflected in the levels of fat phobia, attitudes, and behaviors related to overweight and obesity; (III) adapt the Fat Phobia Scale and translate it into Polish. The study includes 119 Nigerian students and 120 Polish students. The following tools are used-ORK-10, ATOP, BAOP, BES and FPh. The results indicates that Nigerian students have significantly (p < 0.01) less knowledge about the risks associated with overweight and obesity. In contrast, they have a significantly (p < 0.01) more positive body image than the Polish students. Among Nigerian students, men have more positive body image in comparison to women (p = 0.01). An inverse relationship is observed in the group of Polish students, among whom women had a more positive body image than men did (p = 0.01). There are no statistically significant differences in fatphobic attitudes among the studied groups. It has been observed, that culture may be related to weight biases.

Trends in prevalence of obesity and its association with hypertension across socioeconomic gradients in rural Yunnan Province, China

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to uncover the changing prevalence of obesity and its association with hypertension across socioeconomic gradients in rural southwest China.

METHODS

Data were collected from two cross-sectional health interviews and surveys from 2011 to 2021 among individuals aged ≥ 35 years in rural China. Each participant's height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure were measured. The overall prevalence of obesity, central obesity, and hypertension was directly standardized by age based on the total population of the two surveys. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the association between obesity and prevalence of hypertension and an individual socioeconomic position (SEP) index was constructed using principal component analysis.

RESULTS

From 2011 to 2021, the prevalence of obesity, central obesity, and hypertension increased substantially, from 5.9%, 50.2%, and 26.1-12.1%, 58.0%, and 40.4% (P < 0.01), respectively. These increasing rates existed in all subcategories, including sex, age, ethnicity, education, annual household income, access to medical services, and SEP (P < 0.05). In both 2011 and 2021, lower education level and poor access to medical services correlated with higher prevalence of central obesity, while higher SEP correlated with higher prevalence of obesity and central obesity (P < 0.01). Prevalence of obesity was higher in the Han ethnicity participants and individuals with poor access to medical services than in their counterparts (P < 0.01). Whereas the prevalence of central obesity was lower in Han participants than in ethnic minority participants in 2011 (P < 0.01), this trend reversed in 2021 (P < 0.01). A positive relationship between annual household income and prevalence of obesity and central obesity was only found in 2021 (P < 0.01). Obese and centrally obese participants were more likely to be hypertensive in both survey years (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Future interventions to prevent and manage obesity in rural China should give increased attention to high income, less educated, poor access to medical services, and high SEP individuals. The implementation of these obesity interventions would also help reduce the prevalence of hypertension.

A quantile regression approach to identify risk factors for high blood glucose levels among Bangladeshi individuals

Background and Aims

Diabetes mellitus, characterized by high blood glucose, is an overwhelming public health concern globally, including in Bangladesh. The implication of this trend may pose a significant challenge to the health systems due to the lack of awareness and improper management of this chronic disease. To formulate strategies for public health planning, this study aims to explore the potential risk factors for elevated blood glucose levels among Bangladeshi individuals using advanced statistical methods and a nationally representative data set.

Methods

This study utilized data from the 2017-18 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey and included 11,863 individuals. A nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test assessed the significant association between fasting plasma glucose levels and various risk factors. Additionally, a robust quantile regression model was applied to examine the net effects of each risk factor at different quantiles of the distribution.

Results

The prevalence of diabetes is 8.1% among individuals in the study population, with variations observed across different administrative divisions in the country. Respondents from the Dhaka division respondents had a higher likelihood (24.1%) of having elevated plasma glucose and the Rangpur division had a lower risk (10.3%) of developing diabetes disease. This study identified several potential risk factors associated with elevated blood glucose levels, including hypertensive disease, overweight and obese body mass index, higher economic status, reduced physical activities, and older age, significantly contributing to develop diabetes mellitus.

Conclusion

This study recommends promoting healthy lifestyles, increased physical activity, effective hypertension management, obesity reduction, and nationwide screening programs to control diabetes and noncommunicable diseases in Bangladesh. These preventive measures are crucial for reducing the existing prevalence of diabetes and working toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The Leading Factors of Obesity and Severe Obesity in Korean Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

(1) Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the prevalence of obesity or severe obesity has increased worldwide to the point that it has even been referred to as a new disease. However, the impacts of the pandemic on obesity or severe obesity remain unclear, thus requiring a thorough examination of the leading factors of obesity and severe obesity during this time. (2) Methods: The required dataset for this study was extracted from the eighth (2019-2020) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES). The survey's data for 2019 and 2020 were analyzed to confirm the leading factors of obesity and severe obesity before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. The samples were weighted, and the data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. (3) Results: In 2020, the prevalence of obesity and severe obesity in the Korean adult population aged 19 and over, compared with the normal weight group, showed significant increases of 2.5% and 1.4%, respectively, compared with those rates in 2019 (p < 0.05). The main variables affecting the obesity prevalence in Korean adults aged 19 and over in 2020 were gender, age, sitting time per day, and walking time per day, and the factors affecting severe obesity were gender and age. Meanwhile, the daily energy intake variable had no impact on the prevalence of obesity and severe obesity. (4) Conclusions: These findings will serve as a basis to help the present management directions and treatment approaches for individuals with obesity or severe obesity in the post-COVID-19 era.

Prevalence of central obesity and associated factors in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is a global public health concern that is now on the rise, especially in low- and middle-income nations. Despite the fact that there are several studies reporting the prevalence of central obesity among adults in Ethiopia, there is a lack of a systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizing the existing observational studies. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the prevalence of central obesity and its associated factors in Ethiopia.

METHODS

Online libraries such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Science Direct, and Addis Ababa University were searched. Data were extracted using Microsoft Excel and analyzed using STATA statistical software (v. 16). Forest plots, Begg's rank test, and Egger's regression test were all used to check for publication bias. To look for heterogeneity, I² was computed, and an overall estimated analysis was carried out. Subgroup analysis was done by region and study setting. In addition, the pooled odds ratio for related covariates was calculated.

RESULTS

Out of 685 studies assessed, 20 met our criteria and were included in the study. A total of 12,603 people were included in the study. The prevalence of central obesity was estimated to be 37.31% [95% confidence interval (CI): 29.55-45.07]. According to subgroup analysis by study region and setting, the highest prevalence was observed in the Dire Dawa region (61.27%) and community-based studies (41.83%), respectively. Being a woman (AOR = 6.93; 95% CI: 3.02-10.85), having better socioeconomic class (AOR = 5.45; 95% CI: 0.56-10.34), being of age 55 and above (AOR = 5.23; 95% CI: 2.37-8.09), being physically inactive (AOR = 1.80; 95% CI: 1.37-2.24), being overweight (AOR = 4.00; 95% CI: 2.58-5.41), being obese (AOR = 6.82; 95% CI: 2.21-11.43), and having hypertension (AOR = 3.84; 95% CI: 1.29-6.40) were the factors associated with central obesity.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of central obesity was high in Ethiopia. Being a woman, having a higher socioeconomic class, being older, being physically inactive, being overweight or obese, and having hypertension were all associated. Therefore, it is vital for the government and health organizations to design and implement preventive measures like early detection, close monitoring, and positive reversal of central obesity in all patients and the general population. High-quality investigations on the prevalence of central obesity in the Ethiopian people are required to better understand the status of central obesity in Ethiopia.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42022329234.