Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome Among Underweight, Healthy. Overweight and Obese Indigenous Sub-Sahara African Adolescents: A Comparative Analysis
Susan J Holdbrooke1*, Bamgboye M Afolabi1,2 and Oluwagbemiga Aina1
1Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, 6 Edmond Crescent, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
2Health, Environment and Development Foundation, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author: Bamgboye M Afolabi, Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, 6 Edmond Crescent, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
Published: April 05, 2025
DOI: 10.55162/MCMS.08.282
Abstract
Background and Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a public health burden. The objective is to compare the prevalence of MetS and its components among underweight, healthy, overweight and obese adolescents in Lagos, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 624 adolescents (383 girls and 241 boys). Data collected included waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting total cholesterol (T-Chol), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Results: In all, 108 (17.3%), 466 (74.7%), 30 (4.8%) and 20 (3.2%) subjects were underweight, healthy, overweight and obese. Obese subjects were significantly younger than the underweight (P-value=0.0003) or healthy (P-value=0.008) individuals. Waist circumference ≥90th percentile was more prevalent among obese boys (16.7%) than girls (7.1%). The prevalence of MetS was 8.3%, higher in boys (14.1%) than girls (4.7%), highest (26.7%) among the overweight and lowest (2.8%) among the underweight. High LDL-C was mostly widespread (92.5%) and systolic hypertension had the least occurrence (4.3%). Dyslipidemia, diabetic FPG, and systolic hypertension, were most prevalent among overweight subjects. Prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia (78.6%), of low HDL-C (33.3%), hyperglycemia (22.2%) and systolic hypertension (33.3%) were highest in obese girls and overweight boys respectively. The risk factor for MetS of ≥3 least occurred (2.8%) among underweight subjects. Conclusions: Our results indicate that less than 5% of the adolescents were either overweight or obese but 17.3% were underweight. Cardiometabolic risk factors for MetS were more common among overweight subjects. Metabolic syndrome was more prevalent among boys (14.1%) than girls (4.7%).
Keywords: Biophysical profile; Black African Adolescents; Clinical; Metabolic Syndrome; Sub-Saharan
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