CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

Overweight and obesity have instituted numerous health complications that has risen steadily over the last two decades. For example, recent data shows that adult overweight and obesity in most European countries has risen alarmly with 27% and 38% of Men and women respectively considered to be obese (Sallis and Glanz 2009 p.128)

In June 2013, the American Medical Association officially recognized obesity as a disease. For many years, obesity was viewed as simply a behavioral disease where the patient was not able to engage in enough physical activity to burn the calories consumed. This new recognition has enormous consequences since most insurance companies previously have denied coverage for this disease and also , individuals with body mass index (BMI) greater than 30kg/m² have a 50-100% increased risk of developing more than 40 obesity related diseases including diabetes heart disease and cancer.    According to World Health Organization, overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 24kg/m² is considered overweight, and over 30kg/m² is considered obese (9th June 2022). In relation to the above definition, Food and Drug Administrations define normal weight as a BMI 18.5 to 24.9kg/m² , overweight as a BMI of 25-29.8kg/m²  and obesity as a BMI of >30kg/m². Although overweight and obesity are more common in economically developed countries, developing countries have been projected to have a much larger proportional increase in the number of overweight and obese individuals between 2005 and 2030 (Kelly T, yang W et al global burden for obesity in 2005 and projected to 2030). Also, expanding westernization and urbanization in sub-Sahara African which are associated with unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary lifestyle are fuelling the prevalence of obesity in the Region (Zimmet et al 2021). (Abubakari et al

in 2008) estimated the prevalence of obesity among West African adults at 10% with females being more likely to be obsessed than their male counterparts.

During the past 20years , obesity among adults has risen significantly in the United States , the latest data from the ( National Centre For Health Statistics) shows that a third of United States adults 20years of age and older , over 100million people are obsessed and this increase is not limited to adults only but also affected young people. Among youths, 18% of children aged 6-11years and 21% of teens 12-19years are considered obsessed. Recent data reveals the prevalence of obesity to be 17.8, 30 and 37% in some populations of Ghana, South Africa, and Nigeria respectively. Furthermore, World Health Organization estimated that about two billion and 600million adults worldwide were overweight and obsessed in 2014 respectively. According to (Ofori-Asenso et al 2016) almost half of Ghanaians’ were either obsessed or overweight. Also, they repotted a prevalence of obesity and overweight of  25.4% and 17.1% respectively being  female living in urban areas, being married, higher socio-economic status, higher educational status and physical inactivity have been associated with increased odds of being overweight or obese (Macia E, Cohen E et al 2017). Furthermore Fezeu et al reported a two folds increase in the prevalence of age standardizing prevalence of overweight and obesity in rural Cameron over a period of about 10years (Fezeu Lk , Assah Fk 2008).These report highlight the fact that the obesity epidemics is increasingly taking an important place as of a disease burden in Cameroon and May deteriorate if no action is done.

1.2 Problem Statement.

In 2016, 39% of adults aged 18years and over (39% of men and 40% of women) were overweight and overall, about 13% of the world’s adult population (11% of men and 15% of women) were obsessed. The worldwide prevalence of obesity nearly tripled between 1975 and 2016 (World Health Organization 9 June 2021). Furthermore, across Africa the number of men and women living with obesity is increasing annually. In addition, all African countries with available data are off tract to meet global target on adults’ obesity. The latest statistics shows that 18.4%of women and 7.8% of men on the continent live with obesity (Paul Adepoju 20 April 2021).

Cameron has not been spared with the wave of westernization and as such, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the prevalence of obesity in adult Cameron population increased steadily from 4.9% in the year 2000 to 9.5% in 2016( FAO 10 March 2021).

Added  to the above, the investigator witnessed cases of obese youths in her home area (Mbonge road Kumba) , that is in about 50% of youths, 40% were obsessed so this got the investigator  worried and sought to ” Assess the knowledge and attitude of youths of Mbonge road Kumba on overweight and obesity”.

1.3 Research objectives

1.3.1 General Objective

 To assess the knowledge and attitude of youths (18-25years) of Mbonge road Kumba on overweight and obesity.

1.3.2 Specific Objectives.

1) To assess the knowledge of youths on overweight and obesity.

2) To identify the attitude of youths on overweight and obesity.

3) To establish the effect of overweight and obesity in youths.

4) To identify some differences between overweight and obesity persons with normal weight individuals.

1.4 Research Questions.

• Do the youths of Mbonge road Kumba know the preventative methods of overweight and obesity?
• What knowledge do the youths (18-25year) of Mbonge road Kumba have on overweight and obesity?
• Are the youths of Mbonge road Kumba aware of the causes of overweight and  obesity