Parent’s Adiposity, Better Predicts Their Child’s Adiposity than Socio-economic Status in a Sample of 2689 Children Aged 8 to 15 Year in Urban Area in Cameroon: A Pilot Study.

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.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome among 16-21 Years Urban Cameroonian Using NCEP ATPIII and IDF Criteria.

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.

Effect of Birth Weight and Mode of Feeding During Early Infancy on Clinical Indicators of Obesity and Lipid Profile in Adulthood.

Aims: To study effect of birth weight and mode of feeding during early infancy on clinical indicators of obesity and lipid profile in adulthood. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted on 260 adults aged 21-31 years censured in Yaoundé between February and March 2012. Methodology: The study was transversal and retrospective. Data such as birth weight, type of breastfeeding and duration of breastfeeding was collected. Participants also followed a food diary for a week. Anthropometric measurements and cardiovascular risk factors such as total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure were assessed. Results: There were no significant difference between LBW group and NBW. In HBW group weight, BMI and lean mass were significantly (p< .05) higher than in NBW group. Body fat was significantly (p < .05) high among NBW compare to HBW. These results were confirmed by binary regression for body fat .918 (.852-.988) and lean mass 1.100 (1.039-1.164). Relation between birth weight and body fat showed an inverse and significant (P<.05) correlation. Participants with low birth weight (LBW) had a concentration of total plasma cholesterol significantly higher than participants with normal birth weight (NBW) (p < .05) or High birth weight (HBW) (p < .05). Furthermore, a significant inverse correlation was noted between the total plasma cholesterol (P < .01), LDL cholesterol (P < .05) and the birth weight. The plasmatic total cholesterol (p < .05) and LDL cholesterol (p < .05) of participants who had mixed feeding was also higher compared to those who have been under exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. Conclusion: birth weight and mode of feeding during early infancy have effects on clinical indicators of obesity and lipid profile in adulthood.

Rapid Increase in Ownership and Use of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets and Decrease in Prevalence of Malaria in Three Regional States of Ethiopia (2006-2007)

Following recent large scale-up of malaria control interventions in Ethiopia; this study aimed to compare ownership and use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN); and the change in malaria prevalence using two population-based household surveys in three regions of the country. Each survey used multistage cluster random sampling with 25 households per cluster. Household net ownership tripled from 19.6in 2006 to 68.4in 2007; with mean LLIN per household increasing from 0.3 to 1.2. Net use overall more than doubled from 15.3to 34.5; but in households owning LLIN; use declined from 71.7to 48.3. Parasitemia declined from 4.1to 0.4. Large scale-up of net ownership over a short period of time was possible. However; a large increase in net ownership was not necessarily mirrored directly by increased net use. Better targeting of nets to malaria-risk areas and sustained behavioural change communication are needed to increase and maintain net use