Double Jeopardy: Preponderance of Impaired Glucose Homeostasis and Overweight/Obesity Among Adult Females in Ikwo, Ebonyi State

The nutrition transition being faced by most economically developing countries has resulted in changes in chronic diseases patterns in such countries, yet such diseases are rarely studied in rural areas, where the majority of the population live. The prevalence of diabetes/impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and overweight/obesity was therefore studied in a population of adults in Ikwo LGA, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Standard internationally accepted methods were used for this cross-sectional population study. A total of 720 subjects (53.1% females) were recruited and studied. Diabetes was found in 4.0% of the subjects (3.0% for males and 5.0% for females) while 7.1% of the population (6.5% for males and 7.6% for females) had IFG. About 20% of the entire population (and a quarter of the females) were overweight/obese yet, 11.7% of them (10.7% males, 12.6% females) were underweight. The modal age range for those who were diabetic or overweight/obese was 26-40 years irrespective of sex. Blood glucose concentration was found to be significantly correlated only with BMI (r = +0.116; P < 0.01). The preponderance of both diabetes/IFG and overweight/obesity in women as seen in this study is indeed a double jeopardy, requiring urgent interventions.