IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL EVALUATION AND PHYSICAL REPORT (IJMEPR )

E-ISSN 2579-0498
P-ISSN 2695-2181
VOL. 7 NO. 4 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56201/ijmepr.v7.no4.2023.pg32.43

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Body Weight Perception and its Relationship with Anthropometric Indices of Undergraduate Students in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Onyebuchi Obia, Nsanowaji Isaac Meloh, Udodiri Obia and Edith Reuben

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Abstract

Background to the study: Influences from the media has increased the consciousness of young adults about their body weight and size. The aim of the present study was to evaluate body weight perception and its relationship with anthropometric indices of undergraduate students in Port Harcourt. Material and methods: The study involved a total of 600 undergraduate students aged 18-35 years (including 249 males and 351 females). Body weight perception was assessed using a structured questionnaire. The anthropometric indices (weight, height, waist, hip and shoulder circumference and foot length) of each subject were measured using standard methods while the ratios were calculated. Results and discussion: The average BMI of undergraduates was 23.66±0.13kg/m2. There was no significant gender difference in BMI, hip circumference and foot length. Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio were significantly higher in males while waist-to-height ratio was significantly higher in females. There was significant correlation between BMI and hip circumference, shoulder circumference and waist circumference but no significant correlation exists between BMI and foot length. The incidence of obesity amongst undergraduates in Port Harcourt was as low as 3.3% using the measured BMI even when only 1.5% admitted being obese. The actual BMI classified overweight was 25.7% as against perceived overweight of 19.8%. Only 56.3% perceived themselves to be within the normal weight whereas up to 67.5% were actually normal weight. The incidence of underweight was 3.5% but as many as 22.3% of undergraduates perceived they were underweight. Conclusion: In conclusion, there is a similarity between actual BMI and perceived BMI amongst undergraduates. Using both the actual and perceived BMI classifications, more of the males were within the underweight and normal weight classes whereas overweight and obesity were commoner in the females. A

keywords:

Body weight perception, anthropometric indices, undergraduate students.

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