Anthropometric measurements as nutritional indicators and association with sociodemographic factors among the Idoma ethnic group in Nigeria

Background: Anthropometric measurements have been widely used as nutritional indicators (NIs) to evaluate the nutritional status of individuals and populations. However, there is limited research on the association between anthropometric measurements and sociodemographic factors in the Idoma ethnic group in Nigeria. This study aimed to examine the association between anthropometric measurements and sociodemographic factors among the Idoma ethnic group in Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 617 individuals aged 11-19 years. Anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, and body mass index (BMI), were measured using standard procedures. Sociodemographic data, including age, gender, education level, occupation, and income, were collected using a structured questionnaire. Results: The results showed that the mean BMI of the participants was 25.2 ± 5.2 kg/m², with 7.9% of the participants classified as overweight and 7.4% as obese. The prevalence of underweight and wasting were 48% and 35.8%. Variables such as age-sex, number of siblings, birth order, and family members were found to be significantly associated with NIs by binary logistic regression analysis (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study highlights the high prevalence of overweight and obesity among the Idoma ethnic group in Nigeria. Sociodemographic factors, including education level, occupation, and income, were found to be associated with NIs. These findings have important implications for the development of targeted interventions to improve the nutritional status of the Idoma ethnic group.