THE BODY MASS INDEX OF SELECTED MALE AND FEMALE ADULTS SUBJECTS IN YENAGOA, AND SOME RURAL AREAS OF BAYELSA STATE NIGERIA.

*Solomon M. Uvoh, Asara A. Azibalua, Tabowei O. Churchill and Solomon A. Lelei 

ABSTRACT

The body mass index of some adult subjects between the ages of twenty to sixty five (20-65) years were studied in Bayelsa State. The number of subjects studied were two hundred, comprising one hundred and four males and ninety six females. The analysis from the result indicates that 2.9%,24.0%,38.5%,and 34.6%male subjects were under weight, normal, overweight, and obese while the female subjects had 2.15,32.3%,42.3%,and 22.9% as underweight, normal, overweight, and obese respectively. The overall body mass index (kg/m2) for adult male subjects between the ages of twenty to forty five and forty six to sixty five are 28.7kg/m2 and 30.09kg/m2 while the body mass index for the adult female subjects were 27.21kg/m2 and 27.56kg/m2 respectively. However, the mean value for the entire one hundred and four male subjects were 29.02kg/m2 and 28.01kg/m2 for the female subjects. The percentage of adult male and female subjects observed to be underweight were very low (2.9%) and (2.1%) indicating that villages in Bayelsa State are well known for Agricultural activities. We also observed a significant difference between the weight and height. It is therefore recommended that due to increase in body mass index, there is need for both Governmental and non-Governmental agencies including all health institutions in the State to embark on enlightenment campaign program on the need for regular exercise, anthropometric checkup, and sedentary life style to curb the menace of overweight and obesity.

Keywords: Body mass index, Obesity, Blood pressure, overweight, weight, height.