Relationship of anthropometrics and blood pressure to identify people at risk of hypertension and obesity-related conditions in Nigerian rural areas.

The prevalence of obesity and hypertension is increasing, particularly in the urban areas. However, there is limited research on the relationship between obesity and hypertension in the rural areas of southeastern Nigeria. The present study aimed to investigate the association between anthropometric parameters and adiposity indicators and the risk of hypertension with obesity-related conditions, based on a descriptive study of people living in the southeastern rural areas of Nigeria. The cluster sampling procedure randomly recruited study participants. Finally, 200 participants (100 male and 100 female) aged 18 to 25 years were included in the study. A simplified correlation analysis was used to derive the adjusted indicators in relation to age and sex. This study found that females generally had a higher body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and Z-score, whereas systolic blood pressure (SBP) was higher in men. A high correlation was found between the body shape index (ABSI) and BMI (r = -.529, P < .001), WC (r = .399, P < .001) and Z-score (r = .982, P < .001) in male participants. In females, there was a high correlation between ABSI and BMI, blood pressure (BP), and Z score in female participants (r = -.481, P < .000; r = -.267, P = .007; r = .941, P < .000). In male participants, BMI was correlated with diastolic blood pressure (DBP; r = .236, P = .018), SBP (r = .282, P = .005), Z score (r = -.539, P < .000), and WC (r = .541, P < .001). This study highlights the importance of considering a range of anthropometric measurements and health parameters when assessing health risks and identifying potential interventions. In addition, the body shape index may be a particularly useful tool for predicting health risks in both men and women. In contrast, correlations between various health parameters can provide insights into the underlying mechanisms and risk factors.

Impact of pubertal timing and socioeconomic status on adult height and body proportions in Igbo ethnicity.

OBJECTIVES: Age at menarche is a marker of pubertal timing that may influence adult height and body proportions. Previous studies have shown that socioeconomic status can affect age at menarche and growth patterns in different populations. This study aims to examine the associations between age at menarche, socioeconomic status, height, and leg length in a sample of Igbo ethnicity. METHODS: The study used data from questionnaires and anthropometric measurements of 300 female students aged 18-25 years. Study tested the hypotheses that earlier menarche is associated with shorter stature and shorter leg length, and that these associations are modified by socioeconomic status using nonparametric analysis. RESULTS: Mean age at menarche was fluctuating around 12.84 ± 1.40 and 13.59 ± 1.41 years with school girls and grew 3.0 cm taller per year birth cohort. The study also found that girls with earlier menarche were shorter adult height (162.51 ± 6.00) compared with girls who have menarche at a later age. The linear regression coefficients (bs) ranged from 0.37-0.49 in later year birth cohort and 0.37-0.44 in early year birth cohort for height. The effect of age at menarche on leg length was similar to the relation between age at menarche and birth cohort height. CONCLUSION: The study will contribute to the understanding of how pubertal timing and socioeconomic status interact to shape adult health outcomes in a transitioning population.