Body Mass Index and Waist - Hip Circumference among the female workers of Ilorin University, Nigeria

Abstract

Aim. This paper assessed the waist and hip circumference, Waist – Hip Ratio (WHR) and Body Mass Index (BMI) to predict the risk factors of obesity among the University of Ilorin women.
Methods. The random sampling technique was used to select 42 academic and nonacademic women. To determine either the selected staff used for the study are obese or overweight, data were gathered through measurement of their height (HT) in meters, weight (WT) in kg, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC) in cm, used to determine their Waist – Hip Ratio and the Body Mass Index. To determine the BMI of each of the subjects, weight was divided by height squared of the subject while WHR was found by dividing WC with HC.
Results. The findings revealed that majority of the women were predisposed to risk factors of overweight and obesity. 20 (47%) of the women had above 88cm WC, 36 (85%) had above 0.82 WHR, while 30 (71.43%) of the women had BMI above optimal. The health problems associated with overweight and obesity at all levels of the university community women. This is an indication that the university of Ilorin women are exposed to health related problems of overweight and obesity.
Conclusion. It is concluded that the university women need to modify their lifestyle by a balanced healthy diet and increase their physical activity and exercise. So also, the university authority should organise nutritional education programme to educate the university community to enhance positive change of lifestyle to promote high productivity.

Key words:

overweight, obesity, waist-hip ratio, obesity risks