Physical Activity, Dietary Intake and Anthropometric Indices of a Group of Nigerian University Undergraduates

This study explores the interrelationships among the physical activity level, dietary pattern and anthropometric indices of some pre-clinical undergraduates in a university in southeastern Nigeria. One hundred and twenty-one (121) consecutively-recruited volunteers (57 male and 64 female), aged 19-29 years, who were pre-clinical students participated in the study. Information on physical activity level (PAL), dietary pattern and anthropometric characteristics as well as demographics was collected. About 80% of the male and female participants had normal weight. Fewer males (11.1%) than females (17.6%) reported low PAL. Fewer males (5.7% and 7.7%) tended to have undesirable waist circumference (WC) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) than the females (16.2% and 41.2%). Also fewer males (24.1%) tended to have a high fat intake than females (30.9%). However, more males (87.0%) tended to take low amounts of fruit/vegetable (FV) than females (79.4%), whereas more females (89.75%) tended to take low amount of fibre than the males (57.4%). The females had a higher (P<0.05) WHR than the males, while the males consumed more fibre (P<0.05) than the females. Fat intake correlated very significantly (P<0.05) with WC. Fibre intake correlated very significantly (P<0.05) with WC and WHR, while PAL correlated significantly with only BMI and WC. Although the prevalence of general obesity is not alarming in this sample, a sizeable number of the respondents have the tendency to be obese and also have central obesity. Fruits and vegetables and fibre consumption were generally low

Potential Hazards and Possible Safety Precautions in Electrotherapy

The use of various electrotherapeutic modalities in physiotherapy is known to offer beneficial effects for patients for whom the modality has been found to be clinically suitable. However, there are a few grey areas that need to be addressed in order to maximize the benefits derived from the use of these modalities. Though these modalities have direct benefits for the patients, the physiotherapist, support staff and students, and even the patient are exposed to some danger from, or related to, their use, unless certain safety  precautions are instituted. This article presents the potential dangers associated with different electrotherapeutic modalities and the possible preventive measures that could be undertaken to protect individuals likely to be exposed to these dangers.KEYWORDS: hazards, safety, precaution, electrotherap

Active Commuting to School as a Source of Health Promotion Among Urban Day Secondary School Students in Ibadan, Nigeria: Barriers and facilitators

This study examined active commuting among secondary school students and the factors that constitute barriers or facilitators. It also assessed whether links exist with sociodemographic characteristics. A selfdesignedquestionnaire was used in this cross-sectional survey to obtain data on the commuting patterns, attitudes and sociodemographic characteristics of 926 students in Ibadan, Nigeria. Although 52.7% of the students lived within 1 to 3 km of their school, only 19.8% (183) were active commuters. More than 69% of the students preferred to remain passive commuters at the expense of good health. Proximity to school was the most reported (94.5%) facilitator of active commuting and parental restraint against walking to school was reported by 60.8% of the passive commuters. Commuting habits were significantly (p<0.05) associated with sociodemographic characteristics. The students were predominantly passive commuters and their commuting pattern was linked to sociodemographic characteristics while barriers and facilitators of active commuting included family, societal, environmental and school factors.KEYWORDS: adolescents health, attitudes, physical activity,  sociodemographic characteristics, transport to schoo

Quality of life and sex-differences in a South-Eastern Nigerian stroke sample

BackgroundQuality of Life (QOL) studies in stroke among Africans are rather few and mainly from South-Western Nigeria. Hardly is there any from the other regions of this vast nation. Reports on gender influences on stroke survivors’ QOL have also been contradictory.ObjectivesThis study set out to provide preliminary data on the QOL of stroke survivors in South-Eastern Nigeria and also investigate sex-differences in the QOL.MethodsOne hundred and three volunteering stroke survivors (53 males, 50 females) were recruited from various settings. The Stroke-Specific Quality of Life (SS-QOL) scale was used to assess participants’ QOL. Participants mean QOL score in the overall and individual domains were presented as percentages of Maximum Possible Scores (MPS) while sex-differences across domains were investigated with Mann-Whitney U test statistics at 0.05 alpha level.ResultsParticipants mean scores in the vision (12.44 ± 3.56), thinking (11.50 ± 3.71), mood (18.55 ± 4.81) and language (19.04 ± 6.81) domains were above 70 percent of MPS while mean score in the social role (11.82 ± 4.75) was below 50% of MPS. Overall QOL score was slightly below 70% of the MPS. No significant sex-difference was found in all the SS-QOL domains (p<0.05).ConclusionsQOL seems to be affected, albeit not too severely, among stroke survivors from South-Eastern Nigeria. The effect is however similar for survivors of both gender. Social and family roles and physical functioning seem to be areas requiring keener clinicians’ attention.Key words: Stroke, Quality of life, Sex-differences, South-Eastern Nigeria

Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults

Background Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from 1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 3663 population-based studies with 222 million participants that measured height and weight in representative samples of the general population. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends in the prevalence of different BMI categories, separately for adults (age ≥20 years) and school-aged children and adolescents (age 5–19 years), from 1990 to 2022 for 200 countries and territories. For adults, we report the individual and combined prevalence of underweight (BMI 2 SD above the median). Findings From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity in adults decreased in 11 countries (6%) for women and 17 (9%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 that the observed changes were true decreases. The combined prevalence increased in 162 countries (81%) for women and 140 countries (70%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. In 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity was highest in island nations in the Caribbean and Polynesia and Micronesia, and countries in the Middle East and north Africa. Obesity prevalence was higher than underweight with posterior probability of at least 0·80 in 177 countries (89%) for women and 145 (73%) for men in 2022, whereas the converse was true in 16 countries (8%) for women, and 39 (20%) for men. From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of thinness and obesity decreased among girls in five countries (3%) and among boys in 15 countries (8%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80, and increased among girls in 140 countries (70%) and boys in 137 countries (69%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. The countries with highest combined prevalence of thinness and obesity in school-aged children and adolescents in 2022 were in Polynesia and Micronesia and the Caribbean for both sexes, and Chile and Qatar for boys. Combined prevalence was also high in some countries in south Asia, such as India and Pakistan, where thinness remained prevalent despite having declined. In 2022, obesity in school-aged children and adolescents was more prevalent than thinness with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 among girls in 133 countries (67%) and boys in 125 countries (63%), whereas the converse was true in 35 countries (18%) and 42 countries (21%), respectively. In almost all countries for both adults and school-aged children and adolescents, the increases in double burden were driven by increases in obesity, and decreases in double burden by declining https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/images/research_banner_face_lab_290.jpgunderweight or thinness. Interpretation The combined burden of underweight and obesity has increased in most countries, driven by an increase in obesity, while underweight and thinness remain prevalent in south Asia and parts of Africa. A healthy nutrition transition that enhances access to nutritious foods is needed to address the remaining burden of underweight while curbing and reversing the increase in obesity

Perceived body image and weight: discrepancies and gender differences among University undergraduates

Background: Body image (BI) is a multidimensional construct that includes perceptual, attitudinal, behavioural components, and feedback from other people’s perception of oneself. The feedback from others and the degree to which one accepts or rejects it can determine self evaluation and perception. Body weight perception is a strong determinant of nutritional habits and weight management among adolescents. One of the barriers to reducing rise in obesity prevalence could be its cultural acceptability in some developing countries. Objective: To explore the gender influences on perception of self- and opposite-sex body images (BI), perceived body weight and the actual body weight categories at which discrepancies occur among the perceived BIs in undergraduates. Methods: This was a survey of perceptual dimension of BI, perceived body weight and actual body weight carried out in 121 undergraduates aged 21-29years. Results: Discrepancies occurred between self-perceived BI and each of actual body weight (p= 0.00 at 0.00-0.02 confidence interval (CI)), perceived body weight (p= 0.01 at 0.000-0.02 CI) and self-ideal BI (p= 0.03 at 0.000-0.05 CI) of normalweight males. Self-perceived BI and perceived body weight also differed in normal-weight females (p= 0.02 at 0.000-0.04 CI). Discrepancies (p= 0.02 at 0.00-0.04 CI) occurred between self-perceived BI and self-ideal BI, and between self-perceived BI and desired BI (p= 0.02 at 0.00-0.04 CI) in overweight females. Gender differences occurred for self-ideal BI (p= 0.00 at 0.00-0.02 CI), ideal image for the opposite sex (IBIOS) (p= 0.02 at 0.00-0.04 CI) and desired BI (p= 0.00 at 0.00-0.02 CI). Conclusion: Normal-weight males perceived their BI differently from their actual body weight, perceived body weight and self-ideal BI whereas normal-weight females perceived their BI differently from only their perceived body weight. Discrepancies occur between self-ideal BI and self-perceived BI, and between self-perceived BI and desired BI in overweight females. There are differential perceptions of self-ideal BI, IBIOS and desired BI between males and females

Effects of aerobic exercise and drug therapy on blood pressure and antihypertensive drugs: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Although aerobic exercise has been shown to lower blood pressure (BP) in human beings, its additive BP-reducing effect on antihypertensive drug therapy seems to have been investigated in only laboratory animals. Objectives: This study investigated the effects of aerobic dance combined with antihypertensive drugs on BP and number of antihypertensive drugs in individuals with hypertension. Methods: This open label randomised-controlled trial involved new-diagnosed male and female individuals with mild-tomoderate essential hypertension after at least four weeks of treatment. They were randomly assigned to drug therapy (Normoretic: Hydrochlorothiazide + amiloride hydrochloride, and Amlodipine) (control: n=33) and aerobic dance combined with drug therapy (exercise: n=30) groups. Intervention in each group lasted 12 weeks. BP was measured at baseline and during and pos-intervention. Number of antihypertensive drugs was recorded post-intervention. Results: There were significant reductions in SBP at some periods of the intervention in the exercise group (p=0.000 to 0.002) and control group (p=0.001 to 0.002), and significant difference in DBP at some periods of the intervention in exercise group (p=0.000 to 0.003) and control group (p=0.000 to 0.001). SBP (p=0.066) and DBP (p=0.100) did not differ between the two groups post-12-week intervention. The BP control rates were similar between the exercises (56.7%) and control (35.5%) groups (p=0.075). Similarly, between-group difference in the number of drugs was not significant (p=0.511). Conclusion: This preliminary report demonstrates the tendency of aerobic dance to enhance BP control in individuals on two antihypertensive drugs without BP control

Effects of aerobic exercise and drug therapy on blood pressure and antihypertensive drugs: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Although aerobic exercise has been shown to lower blood pressure (BP) in human beings, its additive BPreducing effect on antihypertensive drug therapy seems to have been investigated in only laboratory animals.Objectives: This study investigated the effects of aerobic dance combined with antihypertensive drugs on BP and number of antihypertensive drugs in individuals with hypertension.Methods: This open label randomised-controlled trial involved new-diagnosed male and female individuals with mild-tomoderate essential hypertension after at least four weeks of treatment. They were randomly assigned to drug therapy (Normoretic: Hydrochlorothiazide + amiloride hydrochloride, and Amlodipine) (control: n=33) and aerobic dance combined with drug therapy (exercise: n=30) groups. Intervention in each group lasted 12 weeks. BP was measured at baseline and during and pos-intervention. Number of antihypertensive drugs was recorded post-intervention.Results: There were significant reductions in SBP at some periods of the intervention in the exercise group (p=0.000 to 0.002) and control group (p=0.001 to 0.002), and significant difference in DBP at some periods of the intervention in exercise group (p=0.000 to 0.003) and control group (p=0.000 to 0.001). SBP (p=0.066) and DBP (p=0.100) did not differ between the two groups post-12-week intervention. The BP control rates were similar between the exercises (56.7%) and control (35.5%) groups (p=0.075). Similarly, between-group difference in the number of drugs was not significant (p=0.511). Conclusion: This preliminary report demonstrates the tendency of aerobic dance to enhance BP control in individuals on two antihypertensive drugs without BP control.Key words: Aerobic exercise, drug therapy, blood pressure, randomised controlled tria

Perceived body image and weight: discrepancies and gender differences among University undergraduates

Background: Body image (BI) is a multidimensional construct that includes perceptual, attitudinal, behavioural components, and feedback from other people’s perception of oneself. The feedback from others and the degree to which one accepts or rejects it can determine self evaluation and perception. Body weight perception is a strong determinant of nutritional habits and weight management among adolescents. One of the barriers to reducing rise in obesity prevalence could be its cultural acceptability in some developing countries.Objective: To explore the gender influences on perception of self- and opposite-sex body images (BI), perceived body weight and the actual body weight categories at which discrepancies occur among the perceived BIs in undergraduates.Methods: This was a survey of perceptual dimension of BI, perceived body weight and actual body weight carried out in 121 undergraduates aged 21-29years.Results: Discrepancies occurred between self-perceived BI and each of actual body weight (p= 0.00 at 0.00-0.02 confidence interval (CI)), perceived body weight (p= 0.01 at 0.000-0.02 CI) and self-ideal BI (p= 0.03 at 0.000-0.05 CI) of normalweight males. Self-perceived BI and perceived body weight also differed in normal-weight females (p= 0.02 at 0.000-0.04 CI). Discrepancies (p= 0.02 at 0.00-0.04 CI) occurred between self-perceived BI and self-ideal BI, and between self-perceived BI and desired BI (p= 0.02 at 0.00-0.04 CI) in overweight females. Gender differences occurred for self-ideal BI (p= 0.00 at 0.00-0.02 CI), ideal image for the opposite sex (IBIOS) (p= 0.02 at 0.00-0.04 CI) and desired BI (p= 0.00 at 0.00-0.02 CI).Conclusion: Normal-weight males perceived their BI differently from their actual body weight, perceived body weight and self-ideal BI whereas normal-weight females perceived their BI differently from only their perceived body weight. Discrepancies occur between self-ideal BI and self-perceived BI, and between self-perceived BI and desired BI in overweight females. There are differential perceptions of self-ideal BI, IBIOS and desired BI between males and females.Key words: Perceived body Image, opposite sex, perceived body weigh