European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PERCEPTION OF RISK OF OBESITY AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN YAKURR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, CROSS RIVER, NIGERIA

Ochei, Kingsley Chinedum, Obeagu, Emmanuel Ifeanyi*, Ugobo, Emmanuel Eteng, Mbah, Henry and Odo Michael

ABSTRACT

The increasing rate of obesity among adolescents is becoming alarming and of public health concern. Adolescence is a crucial period for establishing healthy behaviors, many of the habits formed during this developmental stage will last well into adulthood. Studies have shown that rapid changes in physical growth and psychological development have placed adolescents as nutritionally vulnerable group with unhealthy eating behaviors and involvement in other risky health behaviours such as high consumption rate of alcohol.The aim of the study is to assess the perception of risk of obesity among adolescents in Yakurr Local Government of Cross River State, Nigeria.This research is a cross-sectional descriptive study.Prevalence of obesity among adolescents in Yakurr was found to be 13%. The distribution of obesity among respondent shows that the females were more obese than the males 34 (65.4%). out of 52(13%) respondents that were obese 15(29%) were within the age group of 10- 12years, 22(42%) were within the age group of 13-15 years, 15(29%) were within the age group of 16-19years. Respondents with normal and overweight had low risk perception of obesity. A holistic approach to address the problem is needed; if not the implication of this problem on the future generation will be disastrous.

Keywords: Obeasity,Diabetics, Perception of Risk of Obesity among Adolescents.