Epidemiologic Profile of Overweight and Obesity in Abidjan, Ivory Coast: A Cross-Sectional Study

In sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is high, and it is estimated to increase within the next ten years. In Ivory Coast, the rise in and public health consequences of overweight and obese people are evident. Moreover, data concerning this status are scarce, old, local, and describe only a small sample of the population.

This study has been conducted in order to describe the epidemiologic profile of overweight and obese people in Ivory Coast and identify the potential risk factors of obesity.

From January 2014 to July 2017, 2,643 patients aged 17-70 years old from Abidjan of Ivory Coast were recruited. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 20.0. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis were used to identify risk factors for overweight and obesity.

Most of our patients were females (86.3%) with an estimated average age of 43.7 ± 12.19 years. Among 2,643 patients recruited in this study, 83.3% were obese and 87.2% were affected by central abdominal obesity. Binary logistic regression analysis identified seven factors significantly associated with overweight and obesity, including females (OR: 2.06; 95% CI [1.58-2.68]), >54 years old of age (OR: 3.71; 95% CI [1.84-7.50]), occupation of salesperson and traders (OR: 2.42; 95% CI [1.78-3.29]), ethnic group of North Mande ethnicity (OR: 1.47; 95% CI [1.07-2.02]), family history of obesity (OR: 1.96; 95% CI [1.46-2.63]), ≥150 minutes of sport practice (OR:0.72; 95% CI [0.55-0.96]), and parous females (OR: 1.63; 95% CI [1.11-2.38]).

Overall, gender (female), older age, and occupation were associated with greater risks of overweight and obesity in patients. Ethnic group, pregnancy and family history of obesity posed a lower but significant risk for obesity. More sport practice played a protective role against the acquisition of overweight and obesity.