Obesity Among Students Attending A Tertiary Institution In Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Obesity is rising to alarming levels around the world. The development of obesity and overweight is usually so slow, and insidious that people hardly notice it is happening. It is genetically related, multifactorial disease of excess fat, progressive, life long with life threatening multiple co-morbidity.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of obesity among students of an educational institution in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.METHOD: This is a cross sectional study conducted during a medical physical examination exercise by students of an educational institution in Port Harcourt, Nigeria in 2008. Weight was measured in kilograms, height in metres and the body mass index calculated.RESULTS: Students who voluntarily participated in this study were 58. Mean age was 24.66 years, mean weight 67.28kg and mean height 1.73m. Two students were underweight, 48 had ideal body weight, 4 overweight and 4 obese.CONCLUSION: Preventing obesity must always be the goal because most obese people find it difficult to maintain any weight loss they have managed to achieve. All health professionals must be aware of the dangers of obesity and encourage children, young as well as older adults from gaining too much weight. A small gain each year over a long period produces an obese individual for when treatment is difficult.