Obesity and Body Image Discrepancy among School Adolescents in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Obesity among adolescents is now of great public health concern because of the health problems it poses. Poor body image has been associated with obesity in the past and may have a major effect on future psychological social wellbeing of individual including adolescents. This study determined the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school adolescents in Ile-Ife and also determined Body Image Discrepancy (BID) among the respondents. The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 500 respondents from private and public schools in Ile-Ife. Quantitative data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) of each respondent was calculated. Body Image Discrepancies (BID) of the respondents were assessed using the 7 silhouette figures provided in the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Statistical significance was tested at 5% level. The results showed that 37.2% of the respondents were obese while 16.4% to be were overweight. Obesity was significantly higher among females, respondents in senior classes, respondents in the upper socioeconomic class and those attending private schools (p<0.05). Majority (61%) of the respondents had BID and this was higher among those obese although the association was not significant (p>0.05). The study concluded that obesity is a common health problem among in-school adolescents in Ile-Ife and there is a high prevalence of BID among the respondents.