Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Undergraduate Nursing Students in Nigeria

Abstract

Overweight and obesity are important public health issues in Nigeria and are associated with cardiovascular, endocrine and metabolic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among undergraduate nursing students. Adopting a descriptive study design, 120 students voluntarily participated in the study. Data was collected using questionnaire, weighing machine and a measuring tape. Frequencies (for socidemographic data) and body Mass index were calculated. A research hypothesis was formulated. The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity from the current study are 142/1000 and 41/1000 respectively. The study reveals that 42/1000 males and one in every ten females is overweight. Eight of every thousand males and 33/1000 females are obese. The formulated hypothesis tested at a significant level of 5% indicated that the relationship between gender and prevalence of overweight/obesity is statistically significant. We concluded that weight management intervention in the university should focus on females and further research should seek to understand why females are more likely to be overweight or obese than males.