2025/10/16 by Jarikre, Eric, Ofili, Charles, Otutu, Michael +3
#Childhood obesity #Nigeria #adolescents #dietary habits #physical inactivity #public health #urbanization
paper · doi:10.71637/tnhj.v25i3.1011
Background: Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria. Limited data exist on its prevalence and associated risk factors in many regions. Objectives: To assess and compare the prevalence of childhood obesity among adolescents aged 10–19 years in urban and rural communities of Delta South Senatorial District, Delta State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to July 2024 across 21 schools using multistage sampling. A total of 1,250 adolescents were recruited; 1,178 were eligible for analysis. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. BMI was calculated and classified using International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-offs. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, with Chi-square for categorical variables. Results: The overall obesity prevalence was 15.3%; overweight and underweight were 21.7% and 21.6%, respectively. Urban adolescents had significantly higher obesity rates (17.3%) than rural counterparts (10.2%) (p < 0.05). Females represented 61.0% of obese cases. Unhealthy dietary habits, including high consumption of fast foods (60.6%) and sugary beverages (61.5%), were more common among urban respondents. Adolescents with poor diets were 2.45 times more likely to be obese (95% CI: 1.68–3.56), and those with <60 minutes of daily physical activity had 82% increased risk (OR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.29–2.57). Conclusions: The high prevalence of obesity among adolescents, particularly in urban areas, highlights the role of unhealthy diets and physical inactivity. Targeted school-based interventions and food policy regulations are urgently needed.