Journal of Obesity & Weight Loss Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

The study assessed the independent effects of age and energy expenditure on the risk of obesity among adults (20-64year) in Nigeria. Cross-sectional study with changes in age, changes in work and leisure-time, and physical activities information played a role. In all were 240 adult subjects, 120 women and 120 men (age: 20-64yrs; BMI cut off: ≥ 30kg/m 2 ) in rural/urban area of Nigeria (men and women). The independent effects of age and energy expenditure on obesity Body Mass Index (BMI) by anthropometry, energy expenditure by physical activity information, and age, occupation, marital status were assessed through logistic regression analyses; and sex-specific empirical BMI cut-points were used to determine the risks of obesity. The risks of obesity in the rural and urban areas strongly increased with increase age across the gender. The energy expenditure level did contribute to the risk of obesity among the urban population. Physically active men and women had slightly less chance to be obese. Both age and energy expenditure has a strong and direct association with obesity in the urban settings. Findings from this study showed that in transition societies, age tends to be a risk factor for obesity, whereas energy expenditure tends to be protective, and level of education and economic development are relevant modifiers of the influence exerted by these variables.

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