ABSTRACT

Obesity is one the very important nutritional disorders in developing countries. Hence, a study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of obesity and overweight among house wives in the rural areas with a case study in Arochukwu LGA of Abia State. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence obesity and overweight among house wives in the rural areas with a case study in Arochukwu LGA, however specific objectives were to assess the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, and analyzed the anthropometric status of the respondents. A simple random sampling technique was used to select samples ofrespondents in the area for the research. This was done by determining the total number of villages in Arochukwu Local Government Area. A purposive sample of each village was taken and selecting 248 housewives. The anthropometric data (weight and height) was used to obtain the body mass index of the housewives. Waist circumference and hip circumference was used to obtain waist-hip ratio. Body mass index was calculated as the relationship of weight in kg to height in metres squared. .The Statistical Package for Service Solution (SPSS version 22) was used to analyze the data. Results obtained showed that housewives in the study local were not too overweight as their daily chores of physical activities was helpful in the control ofthe weight, however, they consumed mainly foods of carbohydrate which may not be termed a balanced diet. The study recommended that prevention should begin early in life, and should be based on development and maintenance of life long healthy eating and physical activity pattern.