OBESITY AND IT IMPLICATIONS AMONG RURAL ADULT

Code No: 131138

₦5,000.00

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to assess obesity and it implications among rural adult. Specifically, the study determined the level of obesity prevalence among rural adults, identified the factors that influence overweight and obesity among rural adults, identified the health risk factors associated with overweight and obesity among rural adults and, suggesting ways to prevent obesity among rural adults. The study employed the survey descriptive research design. A total of 77 responses were validated from the survey. The study adopted the Trait theories (Layâ€™s Theory). From the responses obtained and analysed, the findings revealed the factors that influence overweight and obesity among rural adults include: hereditary, pre natal and early life influences, poor diet and too litle physical activities. Furthermore, the findings revealed that the health risk factors associated with overweight and obesity among rural adults include cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and certain types of cancers.. The study recommends stakeholders to make policies that will recognize and address the emerging challenges of childhood overweight and obesity in Nigeria in general during this period of Health Sector Reform.

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
In affluent societies, obesity is the most common nutritional disorder. Obesity is a condition characterized by an abnormally excessive level of body fat (Edinburgh 1995). It is defined as abnormal adipose tissue growth caused by fat cell enlargement (hypertrophic obesity) or an increase in the number of fat cells (hyperplastic obesity) or a combination of the two (Park 2004). Excess fat accumulates as a result of an imbalance in energy intake and expenditure. Obesity's importance cannot be overstated because it is linked to increased morbidity and mortality. It predisposes to the development of serious diseases and reduces the efficiency and happiness of those who suffer from it.
Obesity is a chronic disease that affects both developed and developing countries, and it affects both children and adults. Obesity is now so common that it is displacing more traditional public health concerns, such as malnutrition (Park 2004). It is now a worldwide phenomenon. It is extremely difficult to assess the size of the problem and compare prevalence rates across countries because no exact figures are available, and definitions of obesity are not standardized. However, it is estimated that 10 to 20% of children and adolescents in developed countries are affected (Stone, & Saxon, 2005).
Overweight is defined as having an excess of body weight but not necessarily body fat; a body mass index (BMI) of 25 â€“ 29.9. In children aged two years and older, the Body Mass Index (BMI) is acceptable for determining obesity (Deurenberg, Westrate & Seidell 1991). Although children and adults have the same BMI number, the criteria used to interpret the meaning of the BMI number for children and teens differ from those used for adults. BMI age and gender percentiles are used (www.cdc) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published tables to help determine this in children (www.cdc.gov). Overweight (but not obese) is defined as a BMI between the overweight and obesity cut-off values, whereas obese is defined as a BMI greater than the obesity cut-off value (www.cdc.gov). The BMI for normal weight is lower than the overweight cut-off value (Stone, & Saxon, 2005).