Assessment of nutritional status and anthropometric compositions of over-nourished adults (36-64 years) in Imo State, Nigeria
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Nnamdi Okwudili Mbaegbu 1 , Alison Okorie Ede 2 * , Philomena Ngozi Obiakor-Okeke 1 , Ihuoma Chinonyerem Benneth-Ugochukwu 3 , Chisom Cynthia Ali-Okoro 4 , Mercy Orji Somtochukwu 5 , Chidiebere Joy Nwankwo 2 , Chike Christopher Anunonwu Okereke 5 , Blessing Tochukwu Onyeje 6 , Joakin Chidozie Nwaokoro 5 , Ijeoma Felicia Okereke 7 , Evelyn Omolegho Akhigbe 8 , Ebelechukwu Nwaoma Ihekwoaba 2 , Egbunonu Rosemary Chiamaka 9
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1 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Imo State University, Owerri, Imo State, NIGERIA2 Department of Environmental Health Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, NIGERIA3 Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State, NIGERIA4 Department of Home Economics and Hospitality Management, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Owerri, Imo State, NIGERIA5 Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, NIGERIA6 Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health sciences, Chukwuemaka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State, NIGERIA7 Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umudike, Abia State, NIGERIA8 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital Okolobiri, Obina, Yenagoa Bayelsa State, NIGERIA9 Institute of Oncology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, NIGERIA* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Nutrition deals with the utilization of food nutrients by the body for growth, development, maintenance, and physical activities. Often, ignorance, misunderstanding and malpractice lead to malnutrition, especially among adults. The nutrition status of overnourished adults is characterized by lifestyles, excessive energy and nutrient intake, leading to health complications. This study was conducted to assess the nutritional status and anthropometric composition of overnourished adults (36-64 years) in Imo State, Nigeria. This longitudinal study recruited 432 overnourished adults through multi-stage random sampling techniques as the subjects. It was divided into before intervention, intervention and after intervention stages with subjects grouped into groups 1, 2, and 3 (the experimental groups) and group 4 (the control group). Anthropometric and dietary methods of nutrition assessment were applied to assess the nutrition status before and after the intervention. While a combination of nutrition education/counseling, dietary reduction and planned physical activities were used as the intervention in the experimental groups, no intervention was carried out on the control group. Data was collected using conventional machine tools and manually produced plaster-of-Paris-based food model visual aids and analyzed using statistical package for social science (version 25) and double method. The results showed that there were statistically significant reductions in nutrient intakes of group 1 and group 3 (p = 0.001), statistically significant in the planned physical activities of group 2 and group 3 (p = 0.000), and statistically significant improvements in overnutrition indices (p < 0.05) in the experiment groups after the intervention, with no noticeable change on group 4. In conclusion, this study established that a combination of nutrition education/counseling, dietary reduction and planned physical activities have positive effects on the anthropometric indices of overnourished adults (36-64 years). Therefore, overnutrition indices among adults (36-64 years) in Imo State can be improved and sustained through a combination of nutrition education/counseling, healthy dietary reduction (healthy rations) and planned physical activities. And nutrition status and lifestyle modifications should be a compulsory subject/course of its own in all levels of education in Imo State.

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Article Type: Original Article

J CONTEMP STUD EPIDEMIOL PUBLIC HEALTH, Volume 7, Issue 1, 2026, Article No: ep26016

https://doi.org/10.29333/jconseph/18116

Publication date: 13 Mar 2026

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