Trends in Weight Abnormality of School Children and Adolescents in Nigeria
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The objective of this study was to determine the pattern of weight abnormality in
school children and adolescents in Ota, Nigeria. A total of 926 subjects (male: 357;
female: 569) aged 2-19 years, randomly selected from schools in Ota, Nigeria,
participated in the study. The subjects were divided into five age groups: early
childhood (2-5 years), middle childhood (6-9 years), late childhood (10-12 years),
early adolescence (13-16 years) and late adolescence (17 -19 years). Body mass
indices (BMI) were calculated as 'weight(kg)/height(m)''; body weights were
defined using CDC age- and sex-specific BJ'v:li cut-offs. Weights and heights of
subjects increased proportionately with age, indicative of a progressive growth
pattern. Abnormal body weights occwred in 22.4% of the subjects (nnderweight,
9.0%; overweight, 9.1 %; obesity, 4.3%). Weight abnormality reduced as the age
of subjects increased; it was 43.8, 31.1, 20.0, 19.5 and 17 .7%, respectively for early
childhood, middle childhood, late childhood, early adolescence and late
adolescence. Underweight occlUTed most in early childhood while overweight and
obesity peaked at middle childhood. Weight deficiency was higher in males
(10.4%) than females (7 .9%) whereas weight excess was 12.6% in males and 13.9%
in females. The study showed that weight deficiency and weight excess co-exist
in School children and adolescents in Ota, Nigeria. Whereas weight deficiency
due to rmder-nutrition prevailed in early childhood, weight excess resulting from
over-nutrition was more prevalent in the older children and adolescents
Keywords
QH301 Biology