A RECENT study of obesity or excess weight prevalence in some Nigerian communities has suggested that over 30 per cent of Nigerian population may actually be obese – a much source of concern for health practitioners.

The attendant challenge, experts would say, is that the obese group is more at risk of expensive disease conditions like stroke, cancer, hypertension and diabetes, far more than other Nigerians with moderate weight.

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Dr Imran Morhason-Bello, observed that though obesity is global problem, but it is still assumed to be a problem of European society than it is in Africa. But going by current nationwide systematic review and their findings, he said, “then Nigerians and our policy makers have reasons to be worried, especially for the young generation.”

Morhason-Bello, who spoke at the Cambridge Weight Plan Nigeria (CWPN) Wellbeing Seminar, held in Lagos recently, noted that a collection of studies in Nigerian communities between 2006 and 2010 has shown that obesity is as high as 35 per cent, “and a problem spread across Nigeria.”

In northern part of the country, he observed, obesity is prevalent among one in every 10 men and one out of every five women. In Abuja, one out of every three kids is either overweight or obese. In south-south, obesity rate is one out of every five – male or female.

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems. People are considered obese when their Body Mass Index (BMI), a measurement obtained by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by the square of the person’s height in metres, exceeds 30 kg/m2

According to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO), those that have BMI less than 18.5 are underweight; 18.5-24.9 normal weight; 25.0-29.9 overweight; 30.0-34.9 are in class I obesity; 35.0-39.9 class II obesity and BMI greater than 40.0 are in class III obesity.

Morhason-Bello added that Nigerians indeed have reasons to be worried going by the WHO projection that the current 1.5 billion worldwide obese population would have doubled by 2030.

The predisposing factor, he observed, is that Nigerians, and Africans at large, are faced with problems of malnutrition and obesity in their wannabe quest to be like the Whites and adopting western lifestyles.

While he did not rule out the fact that 25 per cent population of “padded people” have the obesity risk in their blood, but there are others that have been exposed to foetal undernutrition and childhood malnutrition trying to “adjust the clock.”

According to him, “with foetal undernutrition, the cells have been programmed for slow growth process. Attempts to adjust the clock force the body cells to overblown, leading to obesity. And for every weight gain or loss, there is an effect on the body and longevity.

“Apart from infections, all other diseases known today are linked to weight gain. WHO has said that after smoking, obesity is the next problem to fight if we must tackle cancer. Just imagine the rate of obesity among the young generation and the health challenges they risk as they age. The economic effect will be too huge for the nation to cope with, and that is the concern,” he said.

Morhason-Bello said further that besides the need for improved awareness on healthy lifestyle and good diet, it was high time policy makers see to the design of good environment and conducive road networks that encourage regular exercise.

He said there is also the need for families to take responsibility of weight management, and ensure balance between what their wards eat and how they are put into physical activities.

Weight management expert and CWPN Consultant, Folake Odunsi blamed the overweight challenge in Nigeria on “our lifestyle excesses and extravagance at gatherings, which cause a lot of people to have four or five course meals within a short time.”

“But this is one of the attitudes we have to change. There is better awareness out there about obesity. People are showing up at our clinics saying ‘my doctor insist I must lose some weight to conceive, or improve my health.’

“What we need more is eating for health and dieting, the Cambridge Weight Plan way, which has no sinister side effect and 80 per cent success rate,” she said.

Odunsi stressed that there is nothing wrong with local diets, but must be rightly cooked and eaten in moderate portion.

Besides intake of lower calories, Chief Executive Officer CWPN, Eniola Karounwi added other tips, which include having a meal plan; never skip breakfast; stay active with physical exercise; regular weight check and seeking professional support.

Another speaker, Arinola Adeniyi, observed that today’s fast-pace world is sufficient to make the weight management tips look unrealistic, but “balance must be maintained to live a healthy life.”

Adeniyi said: “Our life is like running emergency services and for legitimate reasons too. We get overstretched and the quality of our life is not too fantastic. But in all, we need to find balance like what spa therapy gives. There should be a balance in spiritual, social, physical, environmental issues,” she said.


Guardian

Obese? Tah!. Garri and Akpu dey make pple obese?. All wetin me i dey see na rotund and distended abdomen, and this is a sign of Kwashiokor

nonsense. where did he conduct d exercise with how many samples? Does he know that there is a great difference between obesity and over weight? i may believe d figure being over weight but definitely nt obessed.

Being overweight can also cause problems for children in their health and even how there feel about themselves. Obesity occurs when you take in more calories than your body can use or burn through exercise and normal day to day activities. Click on the link below to read more on obesity and treatments for obesity

Being overweight can also cause problems for children in their health and even how there feel about themselves. Obesity occurs when you take in more calories than your body can use or burn through exercise and normal day to day activities. Click on the link below to read more on obesity and treatments for obesity
http://www.gigihealth.com/obesity-this-is-why-you-should-lose-some-healthy-weight/