Open AccessObesity and risk for hypertension and diabetes among Kenyan adults
Author(s) -
Tecla M Temu,
Paul Macharia,
James Mtui,
Martin Mwangi,
Paul W Ngungi,
Celestine N. Wanjalla,
Gerald S. Bloomfield,
Carey Farquhar,
Loise Nyanjau,
Gladwell Gathecha,
Joseph Kibachio
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.59
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1536-5964
pISSN - 0025-7974
DOI - 10.1097/md.0000000000027484
Subject(s) - medicine , dyslipidemia , obesity , waist , body mass index , overweight , odds ratio , diabetes mellitus , population , abdominal obesity , waist to height ratio , confidence interval , environmental health , endocrinology
Despite the anticipated growth in the global burden of obesity especially in low-income countries, limited data exist on the contribution of obesity to cardiometabolic diseases in Africa. We examined population-based samples of Kenyan adults who participated in the 2015 national chronic disease risk factor surveillance survey. Weight and height were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated and used as a measure for general obesity. Waist circumference (WC), a clinical measure of central obesity was also measured. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between obesity with hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia risk. Of the 4276 participants, the median (IQR) age was 36 (27–47) years, 41% were men. One-third (37%) of the participants were centrally obese, whereas 10% were generally obese. The odds for overweight and general obesity were highest among females, adults >40 years, and those in the highest wealth quartile. Central and general obesity, assessed by WC and BMI, were associated with hypertension and dyslipidemia but not diabetes for both sexes. Compared with adults of normal weight, individuals with a BMI of ≥30 kg/m 2 had an odds ratio of 2.39 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.82–3.12) for hypertension and 2.24 (95% CI, 1.70–2.96) for dyslipidemia. Obesity prevalence is high in Kenya and is associated with hypertension and dyslipidemia but not diabetes. Our findings indicate an urgent need to develop public health interventions to address obesity and prevent the development of comorbid conditions.