ABSTRACT
Background: Cameroon, as many Sub-Saharan African countries, is undergoing epidemiological transition. Parents as well as well their children are getting overweight and obese, mainly in large cities. Aims: This was a pilot study to identify the relationship between parents, environment and children body size in urban Cameroon. Study Design: This was a cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: In year 2010, between February and May. 25 selected schools in urban areas. Methods: Over three thousand and three hundred school age children were selected during investigations, including about 51.8% girls. The questionnaire used was set as follows (i) identification, (ii) collection of parent’s information as ethnicity (region of origin), education, occupation, income and (iii) detailed information on children and anthropometrics. Body sizes were defined using the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). Finally, 2689 children (52.2% Girls) were pooled for further analysis. Results: Positive correlation was observed between child adiposity and pocket money; as with BMI for girls (r=0.342, P<0.001) and boys (r=0.225, P<0.001). Boys adiposity was correlated to family size (BMI, r=0.181, P<0.05), with gestational age at birth (waist, r=0.214, P<0.05) and birth weight (waist, r=0.293, P<0.01). Girl’s adiposity did not show such associations. Mothers’ adiposity was more correlated to girl’s adiposity (waist, r=0.184, P<0.01 and BMI, r=0.183, P<0.01) as compared to boys. While no significant relationship was observed between parents’ education level, occupation, and income. Considering ethnicity, parents’ of west region were up to 3.2 times more at risk of having heavy children (all P=0.01). Conclusions: In Cameroon urban area, parent’s ethnicity and body size are better predictors of their child’s adiposity. This pilot study highlight that further investigations are required to evaluate the contribution of each factor.
ABSTRACT
Background: The metabolic syndrome is a common metabolic disorder associated to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity. Aims: To assess the prevalence of metabolic abnormalities and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among 16-21 years Cameroonian adolescents and analyzed the influence of age, gender and weight status. Study Design: This was a cross sectional study. Place and Duration of study: Commercial High school of Yaoundé, between January and May 2012. Methods: MetS was defined according to United States (US) adapted pediatric criteria and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. A cross sectional study was set to collect data from 1765 adolescents (59.1% girls). Results: Using the US criteria, the prevalence of MetS was 20.3%, while IDF criteria showed a lower prevalence of 15.3%. Girls were at greater risk for MetS (US 25.0% and IDF 23.4%) compared to boys (US 15.0% and IDF 6.1%). The prevalence of MetS was elevated in elder adolescents (US 22.4% and IDF 18.9%) as compared to youngster (US 14.9% and IDF 5.9%). Overweight adolescents (BMI≥25kg/m2) were more exposed to MetS (US 25.5% and IDF 26.7%) than normal weight (US 17.4% and IDF 9.0%). MetS prevalence itself varied markedly according to criteria used. Both US and IDF criteria, showed highest rate of low HDL (US 55.0% and IDF 49.3%) and elevated blood pressure (US 28.8% and IDF 27.0%). Conclusions: The prevalence of MetS among our study population was high especially in girls and overweight adolescents. Individual MetS abnormalities are common in adolescents, further studies are needed to draw a more precise picture of the situation in order to better target interventions to improve future cardiovascular health.