Body mass index measure of young adult Nigerians residents in the Calabar Metropolis.

Abstract

This study assessed the health status of young adult Nigerians resident in Calabar Metropolis in Cross River State of Nigeria. A total of one thousand (1,000) subjects made up of five hundred (500) males and females each were subjected to measurement of height and weight with their consent. Their mean ages were 25.34±0.10 and 23.31±0.12 for males and females respectively and their body mass indices (BMI) were calculated. The males had significantly (p<.001) higher height and weight (170.83±0.24, 68.01±0.24 respectively) with BMI of 23.33±0.08kg/m2 compared to the females (162.44±0.26, 60.5±0.34 respectively) and BMI of 22.96±0.13kg/m2. The BMI were within the World Health Organization's standard for normal health. Thus in conclusion, young adult Nigerians resident in Calabar Metropolis are healthy.