Relationship of Visceral Obesity and BMI with Blood Pressure among Osun State College of Education Staff, Nigeria

Aims: To determine prevalence of visceral obesity, compare association of visceral obesity to Blood Pressure (BP) with association of Body Mass Index (BMI) to BP.

Study Design: Research was a cross-sectional survey study design.

Place and Duration of Study: The study took place in Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria, between November 2015 and April 2016.

Methodology: We included 231 members of staff. A semi-structured instrument (questionnaire) was used for data collection. Waist circumference was measured with a measuring tape. BMI was measured with a weighing scale and stadiometer. BP levels were determined with electronic sphygmomanometer. Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21.

Results: There were 117 (50.7%) male and 99 (42.9%) female participants between the ages of 26 and 66 years. The results revealed that the prevalence of visceral obesity was high (71.4%) among the respondents while prevalence of 88.9% was recorded among the female participants. Dietary pattern of respondents was poor (35.16%), it was significantly associated with the development of visceral obesity [R2 = 0.190; F = 7.47; P < .001]. Social pressure from immediate family, was detected to be significantly associated with respondents’ intention towards reducing visceral obesity [R2 = 0.166; F = 45.704; P < .01]. Findings also revealed that visceral obesity was significantly associated with BP [R2= 0.155; F = 20.989; P < .01] and also significantly associated with BMI [R2= 0.044; F = 5.235; P = 0.006].

Conclusion: Visceral obesity was more significantly associated with high BP than BMI; hence visceral obesity was a more accurate predisposing risk factor than BMI, in predicting susceptibility to hypertension. This study will improve health promotion, while creating awareness about visceral obesity.