Food Consumption Pattern, Anthropometric Indices and Health Status of Adult Women Aged 30-60 Years in Amucha Autonomous Community, Njaba L.G.A., Imo State

The study assessed the anthropometric indices and health status of adult women, aged 30-60 years in relation to their food consumption pattern. The blood sugar level, blood pressure and body mass index of the respondents were determined. A cross sectional survey was used for this study, a clustered and simple random sampling selection technique was used in selecting the samples. Anthropometric indices of weight and height were used to assess the body mass index (BMI), while waist hip ratio (WHR) was used to check for abdominal obesity. Women were considered overweight using world health organization standard (BMI at or above 25), or WHR above 0.85. Health status was assessed by checking blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Blood pressure was taken twice using Omron sphygmomanometer with appropriate cuff off size and women were classified hypertensive if having a mean blood pressure above 120/80 mmHg. Evolve glucometer was used to check for random blood sugar (RBS) levels, respondents were considered diabetics if they have a random sugar above 140 mg/dL. Food frequency table was used to assess food consumption pattern. Respondents were said to have low consumption if consumed the food 1-3 times per week or if rarely or never consumed. It is moderate if consumed 4-6 times per week and high, if consumed 7 times per week, or daily. Questionnaire covered relevant data such as personal data, demographic data. Result showed that the women mean standard deviations for body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR), random blood sugar (RBS), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were 26.29 ± 4.1, 0.86 ± 0.34, 112.51 ± 23.0, 115.4 ± 23.0 and 88.45 ± 4.3 respectively. The mean value for BMI was on the overweight region. Bivariate correlation analysis showed that SBP, DBP, RBS and WHR had positive correlation with BMI with confidence level set at 0.05% (0.206, p = 0.005; 0.16, p = 0.031; 0.081, p = 0.0021 and 0.148, p = 0.000 respectively). WHR also had stronger correlation with RBS (0.90, p = 0.278), systolic (0.272, p = 0.002), diastolic (0.21, p = 0.045). This confirms the assertion that WHR should be used as an indicator of cardiovascular disease not BMI. The survey also reveals that 3.6% were underweight. 49.0% normal, 29.9% overweight and 17.5% obese. Blood pressure levels were marginal as 30.04%, 35.4%, 34.3% are normal, pre hypertensive and hypertensive respectively. Most of the respondents had normal blood sugar as 91.2% were normal. Overweight, hypertension and diabetes were prevalent in rural communities as observed in this study. There is a need for routine check of WHR among women in clinical practice and epidemiological surveys, to reduce incidence of cardiovascular diseases. There is a need for promotion of a healthy life style, regular exercise and proper nutrition.