ABSTRACT

Weight problems refers to the existence of either excess amounts of body fat for one’sheight or frame called overweight (or obese), or insufficient body fat called underweight. Anthropometry is the study of the measurement of the human body in terms of the dimensions of bone, muscle, adipose (fat) tissue wellness and weight status. Weight status of an individual is said to be overweight or obese when the weight of the person is higher than healthy weight and the weight of individual lower than healthy weight is considered underweight. This study assessed the socio-cultural factors affecting the weight status of young adults in urban and rural areas of Akwa Ibom State. A cross-sectional study design was adopted for the study. Multi-stage sampling techniques was used to select 300 respondents from six (6) wards of Uyo and Etimekpo Local Government Areas of Akwa-Ibom State. Data was collected from the respondents with the use of a well-structured and validated questionnaire. The anthropometry assessment of the respondents was done measuring their weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference using weighing scale, standiometer, non-elastic stretchable measuring tape for the measurement and was used to determine their respective BMI and waist-hip ratio and comparing them with reference standard. The data collected was analysed using Statistical Package Service Software (SPSS) version 23.0. Descriptive statistical tools such as frequency table and inferential statistics (correlation analysis) was used to analyse the data so as to achieve the study objectives and the result of the analysis was presented in frequency and percentage, p-value (P<0.05) was statistically accepted. Findings of the study showed that majority (97.3%) of the respondents were Christian and 40.2% of the respondents were single adults. More than half (68.8%) of the respondents earn between N18, 000 - N54, 000 and few of the respondents had no formal education. The result showed that majority (97.0%) of the respondents claimed that belief/faith does not influence that dietary behaviour while many of them claimed that family income is a determinant of their food and dietary choices. More than half (52.2%) had normal body mass index, while prevalence of overweight and obesity among the respondents were 17.6% and 12.3%, respectively. About 56.8% of the respondents were at lower risk of developing central obesity with their waist circumference measurement and 49.5% of the respondents had lower risk of having health issues relating to abnormal waist-hip ratio. Findings of the study showed a significant relationship between preferred choice of food and BMI (0.254**). The result of the study further showed that there is a significant relationship between family income on food selection and BMI (0.019**) and WHR (0.160**). In conclusion, family income, beliefs/norms and knowledge have a great influence in food and nutrients consumption which directly affects weight status and overall body composition. Therefore, this study is recommended to nutritionist and dieticians to educate household on the link between food intake and loosing, gaining extra weight which contribute to prevalence of overweight and obesity in our society.