Sociodemographic Characteristics Associated with Overweight and Obesity among Adult Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in South-South Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Overweight and obesity are growing global public health challenges driven by genetic, environmental, and behavioural factors. In Nigeria, their prevalence is increasing amid epidemiological transition, but local sociodemographic determinants remain poorly understood. This study investigated sociodemographic factors associated with overweight and obesity among overweight and obese adults in Uyo, Nigeria.

Methodology: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the General Outpatient Clinic of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital from July to December 2017. Using consecutive sampling, 385 overweight and obese adults aged ≥ 18 years were enrolled. Data were collected via interviewer-administered questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 17.0, employing chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression.

Results: Of 380 completed responses (98.7% response rate), 73.7% (n=280) were obese and 26.3% (n=100) were overweight. Class I obesity was most prevalent (55%). Factors significantly associated with overweight and obesity in bivariate analysis were female gender (χ² = 32.69, p < 0.001), being married (χ² = 26.39, p < 0.001), age ≥ 40 years (χ² = 12.74, p < 0.001), Ibibio ethnicity (χ² = 22.62, p < 0.001), and occupational class (χ² = 16.06, p = 0.01). In the adjusted multivariable model, independent predictors of overweight and obesity were: female gender (aOR=6.33, 95% CI: 3.33-12.07), Ibibio ethnicity (aOR=2.02, 95% CI: 1.15-3.58), tertiary education (aOR=2.29, 95% CI: 1.02-5.17), and higher occupational classes (Class 2: aOR=5.30, 95% CI: 1.71-16.40; Class 3N: aOR=12.97, 95% CI: 1.45-115.76; Class 4: aOR=8.44, 95% CI: 2.57-27.79).

Conclusion: Female gender, older age, marital status, higher occupational class, Ibibio ethnicity, and tertiary education were significantly associated with overweight and obesity among the study participants. These findings highlight the necessity for targeted, culturally sensitive lifestyle intervention programs, particularly for women in higher socioeconomic groups, to address the increasing burden of overweight and obesity in Southern Nigeria.