AS Adekoya1,2,3*, CI Ojo3, OA Mafimidiwo3,4 and FO Oyeleke5
1SAM Obesity Consult, Nigeria
2Marie Curie Academy, Abeokuta, Nigeria
3Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan, Nigeria
4Department of Human Nutrition, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
5Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Kwara State College of Health
Technology, Offa, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author: AS Adekoya, SAM Obesity Consult, Nigeria.
Received: March 31, 2020; Published: June 22, 2020
Objective: To examine the effect of physical activity level (PAL) on the prevalence of obesity among adults (20 - 64 yr) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Designs: 120 adult males and 120 adult females were randomly selected to participate in the study. Body mass index (BMI) was measured using cut-off ≥ 30 kg/m2 and the physical activity assessed according to WHO/FAO work classification.
Results: Mean BMI was high above the cut-off (7.2% for rural male and 11% for urban male, p = 0.169) and (28.3% for urban female but lower than the cut-off among rural female 7.7%, p = 0.006). The pattern of physical activity significantly fell on the sedentary side, mostly among the urban subjects. There were positive changes (statistically insignificant) in physical activity level (PAL) and a similar shift in obesity prevalence among the sub-population.
Conclusion: The PAL among the population, emphasize the adverse effect of sedentarism on the increasing risks of obesity and chronic degenerative diseases. Participation in physical activity programs should be emphasized.
Keywords: PAL; BMI; Adults; Obesity