Comparison of the prevalence and level of awareness of underweight, overweight and obesity and associated factors among adults in Morogoro
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Date
2008
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Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
The study was carried out to compare the prevalences and level of awareness of
underweight, overweight, and obesity and their associated factors among adults. The study
was carried out in Morogoro Region (Morogoro Urban and Morogoro Rural districts). A
cross- sectional survey design was used and data were collected using a structured
questionnaire for information regarding awareness, life style, and eating habits of
respondents and a bathroom scale and stadiometcr for measuring BMI. The sample
population of 240 adults of which 120 males and 120 females were selected from each
district. The data collected were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences
(SPSS) computer program. The overall results showed a significant (P<0.01) difference
between mean BMI of respondents in Urban 28.27 ± 8.23 and 25.50 ± 4.80 in Rural
districts. Prevalence for underweight was 0.8% for Urban and 6.7% for the Rural district.
The prevalence of morbidly obese was 11% in Urban district and none in the Rural
district. The difference was significant (P<0.01) between the two places. Also the results
showed that 8.3% males and 10% females were morbidly obese in Urban district whereas
no respondent was observed to be morbidly obese in the Rural district. The results showed
that both in Urban and in Rural districts people who were married tended to have
significantly (P<0.01) higher BMI than those who were unmarried. Level of awareness of
obesity and its effects on health amongst people within Morogoro Urban was significantly
(P<0.01) higher than in Morogoro Rural district. The study established a clear association
between overweight, obesity and diseases such as heart attack and hypertension among
adults in the Urban district. Furthermore, it was observed that BMI was significantly
(P<0.01) related to income in both districts. The study suggested that there is a need for
public awareness on effects of underweight, overweight and obesity throughout the
country.
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Keywords
Level of awareness, Obesity, Prevalence, Overweight, Underweight