ABSTRACT

This study examined the dietary pattern and anthropometric indices of farmers in Igbo- Etiti Local Government Area Enugu state. Body mass index (BMI) was used to determine underweight, overweight, and obese individuals among the study group. A total of two hundred and twenty (220) farmers were used for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information about dietary pattern and anthropometric status of the famers. Descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and mean and standard deviation were used for data analysis. The result showed that many (45.5%) attained only primary school level, most (68.2%) ate breakfast before going to farm, 45.6% ate heavy at dinner, many (40.5%) of famers preferred fufu because, is mostly produced from them,30.8% consumed paw-paw fruit daily,21.8% consumed waterleaf vegetable daily. Food selection on food frequency was based on locally produced food (plant products). BMI results showed that 9.1% of the farmers were underweight, 77.3% were normal, 13.6% were overweight and 2.7% were obese. The result further showed that the number of meals consumed a day had positive relationship with their waist circumference; including waist hip ratio. Therefore, it was concluded that lack of adequate dietary pattern may result in poor nutritional status of the farmers; this could pre-dispose the farmers to non-communicable diseases and poor productivity. The low values of anthropometry obtained from this study suggested that there is need for improvement in the nutritional status of these farmers. Eating healthy, adequate diet which improves the health and well-being of rural farmers must be encouraged. The study recommended that nutrition level of the famers should be improved, the various government administrators should mobilize nutritionists, agricultural extension officers to educate the famers on the need to eat adequate meals.