FOOD HABITS, OTHER LIFESTYLES AND ANTHROPOMETRIC STATUS OF ADULTS IN ESSIEN UDIM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF AKWA IBOM STATE

ABSTRACT

Food habits and other lifestyle practices are important determinants of health across all ages. The study was designed to assess the food habits, other lifestyles and anthropometrics status of Adults in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. A total of 400 respondents were selected using simple random sampling technique. A well-structured questionnaire was used to determine their food habits, lifestyles, 24 hours dietary recall, food frequency questionnaire, personal and socio-economic characteristics, anthropometric data analyses and statistical analysis were analyzed using WHO reference standard and SPSS, respectively. Result revealed that (65.3%) of the respondents were females while (34.8%) were males. There were more rural (60.8%) than urban (39.3%) dwellers in this study.   Annang (59.3%) and Efik (32.8%) dominated the ethnic groups of the respondents. Occupational status of respondents revealed that the respondents were mainly traders (37.0%), civil servants (19.8%), farmers (17.3%). Results showed that most (63.3%) of the respondents prepared food themselves, whereas others relied on their spouses (12.5%). On frequency of meal consumption, (28.0%) ate twice while (49.0%) ate three times. Meal skipping was observed in some (33.0%) of the respondents as the affected respondents mainly skipped either breakfast (14.5%) or lunch (12.3%). Only a few (12%) of the respondents suffered from health conditions like hypertension (6.0%), osteoporosis (1.8%), dental problems (1.8%). Most of the respondents were engaged in a daily walkout distance of 1km (41.0%) or 2 (28.5%) km. The predominant recreational activity engaged in by the respondents were jogging (33.3%) and playing whot (46.3%). These activities were done once (36.5%) or twice (34.3%) weekly. Result showed that few of the respondents (5.3%) smoked, majority of respondents consumed alcohol (86.8%). Also results on sleep duration showed that the respondents mostly slept for 6 (31.8%), 8 (28.8%), 10 (20.5%) hours. BMI status revealed that more than half (57.3%) of the respondents had normal weight, few of them were either overweight (27.3%) or obese (11.0%), only a few (4.5%) of them were underweight. Waist hip ratio status revealed that there were more normal respondents (51.8%) than “those at risk of obesity and other diseases (48.3%). Chi-test revealed a significant difference between BMI and person in charge of meal (x² = 41.87; p = 0.00), WHR and person in charge of meal (x² = 49.45; p = 0.00). On the lifestyle habits, weekly frequency of participation in recreational activity and number of bottles of alcoholic drinks taken was significantly different from BMI.  Therefore efforts should be made to encourage the adults towards good food habits and living a healthy lifestyle as this has a bearing on the anthropometric status of the respondents.

INTRODUCTION              

3.6.3.1 Weight measurement                                                 37

3.6.3.2 Height measurement                                                 38

3.6.3.3 Waist circumference                                                            38

3.6.3.4 Hip circumference                                                           38

3.6.4 Dietary measurement                               39

REFERENCES 

APPENDIX                                                                                                          

 

 

The prevalence of obesity and underweight has increased in recent years due to changes in eating habits all over the world. Nutrition as the science of food and its relationship to health has been recognized in recent years as the cornerstone of socioeconomic development (Parks, 2009). Adequate nutrition is important for a variety of reasons including optimal cardiovascular function, muscle strength, respiratory ventilation, protection from infection, wound healing and psychological well-being (Martin, 2006). On the other hand eating behavior and dietary factors are a risk factor in several important diseases such as cancer, coronary heart diseases or obesity. Healthy eating is defined as eating practices and behaviors that are consistent with improving, maintaining and or enhancing health (Raine, 2005). Meal patterns affect resting energy expenditure, body fat, bone density, serum cholesterol and many other situations (Anderson, 2000).

The key features of food habits include snacking, skipping meal, breakfast skipping, dieting and adoption of specific diets (such as vegetarian diet), confectionery, and fast food eating (Chitra, 2007).The preference for eating habits or foods in humans is established by the influences from socioeconomic level of household, religion, tradition, regional characteristics, educational level of parents, public media, and long-term education at home, school, and the society (Judith, 2015).  Musaiger (2002) observed that many factors determine food preferences. Religion, sex, age, physiological changes, psychological factors, symbolic use of foods, taboos, social prestige and economic factors affect food preferences in all cultures (Musaiger and Gregory, 2002).

Economic development, industrialization and urbanization, together with a sedentary lifestyle, have led to changes in dietary habits in most of the world population. These changes have contributed to an increase in body mass in all age groups, leading to a global crisis with significant consequences for world health (World Health Organization (WHO), 2000). Obesity rates are increasing regardless of socioeconomic status but are more pronounced in populations with lower income and lower education (Malarius et al., 2000). This observation is expected because the cheapest foods are rich in fat and sugar but poor in nutritive value (Drewnowski, 2004).

According to Hu (2001), lifestyle is defined as the habits, attitudes, tastes, moral standards, economic level that together constitute the mode of living of an individual or group.  A healthy lifestyle is important in terms of quality of life (Lynn and Angelin, 2011). Individuals who take part in physical activities, eat healthy diets, do not smoke, drink in moderation and manage their stress level are likely to live longer and cope better with daily activities (Ropke, 2000). Lifestyle plays a key role in prevention of a large number of diseases including coronary heart disease, cancer and obesity (Hu et al., 2001). The type and the amount of food an individual chooses to consume as well as his/her lifestyle not only affect his/her well being, but also have implication on body mass index of an individual (Hawarlin, 2007). The choice of which food to eat, where to eat, when to eat are intensely personal and influenced by not only prices and income but also time constraints, family structure, cultural factor and individual physical activities.

 

Adults are group of people who have attained the legal age of maturity, and are therefore regarded as independent, self-sufficient and responsible. Adults are categorized by age into young adults (18-35years), middle-aged adults(36-55 years), and older adults (55 years and above) (Maranz, 2010). Most adults are involved in high consumption of alcohol and this has been recorded to be associated with decreased fertility in both male and female adults (Theobald et al., 2004). The types and amount of foods we eat are the key universal factors that affect our health (Ene-obong, 2001).Research have observed that, barriers to healthy food habits in adults were, a lack of time, limited availability of healthy foods and a general poor knowledge on the importance of following dietary recommendations and nutritional value of each essential nutrient in an adequate diet (Croll and Neimark, 2001). This study is aimed at assessing food habits, lifestyle and anthropometric status of adults in Essien Udim L.G.A, Akwa Ibom State.   

Poor nutritional status and malnutrition in the adult population are important areas of concern. Malnutrition continues to be a global problem affecting the adult as it leads to increased hospital admission, morbidity and higher rate of mortality (Charlton, 2012). Malnutrition and unintentional weight loss contributes to progressive decline in health, reduce physical and cognitive functional status, increase utilization of health care services, lead to premature institutionalization and increased mortality (Edoy, 2005). He further explain that malnutrition is often caused due to the following factors; inadequate food intake, food habits and other lifestyle that lead to dietary deficiencies and illnesses that can cause increased nutrient requirement, increased nutrient loss, poor nutrient absorption or a combination of these factors.

Food habits and lifestyle have a strong influence on the nutritional status of the adults. The most prevalent nutritional problem in both developing and developed countries is obesity. Obesity is defined as a body mass index of≥30kg/m2 (WHO, 2014). It is a global public health problem, as 1 in 10 adults are obese (WHO, 2014). It is associated with a myriad of disorders such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, sleep apnoea, osteoarthritis, depression, reduced quality of life and several cancers (Carr, 2005 and Poirier, 2006). Obesity is linked with huge economic costs (Finkelstein et al., 2009). In the United States of America, the cost of obesity in 2008 was 147 billion dollars (Finkelstein et al., 2009). In USA, the prevalence of obesity is 6.2% in adult men and 4.3% in adult women (Ordinioha, 2013).During the last 30 years, the prevalence of obesity has increased worldwide and   now overweight persons outnumber those with under-nutrition (Finucane et al.,2011 and Caballero, 2007).

The developing world, still battling with communicable diseases, is not left out of this global scourge. This is the result of the nutrition transition, reduced physical activity and economic development (Rivera et al., 2005). Furthermore, there are reports of a more rapid rise in the prevalence of obesity in developing countries compared to developed countries (WHO, 2008).A study among medical health workers in South Africa found that although 73.5% were overweight/obese, 56% were satisfied with their weight (Skaal, 2011; Ordinioha, 2013). According to the 2012 WHO global infobase, the prevalence of overweight adult in Nigerian ranged from 20.3%-35.1%, while the prevalence of obesity ranged from 8.1%-22.2% (Oyedeji  and Ogunleye, 2013). Studies on the prevalence of obesity among health service providers in Nigeria is limited, they have been done mostly among health workers (Ordinioha, 2013). These studies have reported high rates of obesity among Nurses in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 62.6% were obese whereas the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity among women aged 15-49 resident in the same state was 34.8%. According to the 2013 NDHS (Ogunjimi et al.,2016).

 

Prospective studies have reported increased risk of obesity related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among obese adults (Poulsen et al.,2014), as its presence can create functional disabilities or cause other health problems. Records show that yearly 1.9 million deaths occur due to physical inactivity, 2.7 million deaths due to low fruit and vegetable consumption, 7.1 million deaths due to overweight or obesity, and 4.4 million deaths due to raised blood pressure and4.5million death due to raised total cholesterol levels, respectively (Swende et al., 2008). The disease burden of non communicable diseases is increasing in both low and middle income countries (Lorga et al., 2013).People that have poor lifestyle patterns such as smoking, drinking excess alcohol, not exercising and eating poorly are three times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease and nearly four times more likely to die from cancer (Klodas, 2010).The above situation necessitated the investigation into the food habits, other lifestyles and anthropometric status of adults. 

The general objective of this study is to determine the food habits, other lifestyles and anthropometric status of Adults in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Specific objectives are to:

4. Assess other lifestyle practices of the adults.

5. Determine the effect of food habits, and other lifestyles on anthropometric status of the adults. 

The findings from this study will help highlight the food habits and other lifestyles of the adults in the study area and it will contribute to the already existing literature on food habits and lifestyles. It will also unveil how food habits and other lifestyles affect anthropometric status, as well as possible health implications of such relationship. Data from this study will provide researchers with information on the nutritional problems such as, obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases faced by the adults not excluding the influence of their lifestyles. This will provide a fundamental data for nutritionist, public health workers, policy makers and advocacies of food and nutrition to plan and carryout nutrition intervention program for the adults. The study will also give information to caregivers for the adults on how to avoid sedentary lifestyles and poor food habits. This study will help nutrition workers in the local government to plan and carry out nutrition education program that will help to improve nutritional status of adults.

This study will help Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Branch (NEOPBS) to create innovative partnerships that empower low-income adults to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and food security with the goal of preventing obesity and other diet related chronic diseases.

This study will provide a fundamental data for World Health Organization (WHO) to act as a directing and coordinating authority on International health work, to ensure valid and productive technical cooperation, and to promote research. It will also help Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to improve on education and administration relating to nutrition, food processing, marketing, distribution of food and agricultural products.