ABSTRACT
Introduction: Adolescent obesity is a growing public health problem worldwide. This study assessed the prevalence of obesity in a sample of Nigerian rural adolescents using different anthropometric indices. Methods: A total of 600 secondary school adolescents aged 10 to 19 years were selected from ten secondary schools in the Aba South Local Government Area (WA) using a multi-stage random sampling technique. Weight, height, arm circumference, and skinfold measurements were obtained using standard methods. Body fat percentage was calculated according to the Slaughter and Shaikh equations. Descriptive statistics were used to examine gender-specific anthropometric indices. Chi-square and independent t-test were applied to determine differences between the sexes. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the subjects was 9.7% and 3.5%, respectively. There was a significant difference between males and females for waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, waist-height ratio and body fat percentage. Females had more fat deposits in all the skinfold sites measured than males regardless of age group. Females also had significantly higher body fat than males. Multiple regression analysis revealed that calf fat was a strong predictor of body fat percentage in the subjects. Conclusion: More than 10% of the rural Nigerian adolescents studied were overweight, with the females showing significantly higher body fat than the males according to the criteria used. Further studies are recommended to identify contributing factors for the results obtained.