Prevalence of Selected Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome amongStaff of the University of Uyo, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68050/JAMS.2026.601Keywords:
Metabolic syndrome;, Overweight and obesity;, High blood pressure;, Random blood glucose;, University staffAbstract
Background: The prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and its component risk factors is high globally, including in developing countries such as Nigeria. This increasing prevalence may be due to nutrition transition to stage two, characterized by obesogenic environment, sedentariness, increasing earning power and associated shifts in dietary intake to a more westernized pattern. However, there is paucity of empirical studies on university staff in the South-South zone of Nigeria. This study assessed the prevalence of four selected risk factors for MetS among University of Uyo staff and their sociodemographic associations.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 academic and non-academic staff aged 25–69 years (129 males, 121 females), recruited by multistage sampling. Weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure and random blood glucose were measured. Overweight/obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 25 kg/m², abdominal obesity as waist circumference > 102 cm (males) or > 88 cm (females), high blood pressure as ≥ 130/85 mmHg, and raised glucose as random blood sugar ≥ 140 mg/dL. Chi-square tested associations with sex, age, marital status and cadre.
Results: Overall prevalence of overweight was 39.2% and Obesity 28.0%. Both rates were higher among females(43.8% overweight and 35.5% obese) than males ( 34.9% overweight and 20.9% obese)respectively. Furthermore, 74.4% had abdominal obesity (53.5% of males; 96.7% of females). High blood pressure was present in 22.4%. Most participants (82.0%) had normal random blood sugar (70–139 mg/dL), while 4.0% had high random blood sugar of >200 mg/dL (as defined by WHO). The differences in BMI by sex, age, marital status and cadre were statistically significant (p< 0.05). While the differences in abdominal obesity by sex, age and marital status were statistically significant (p < 0.05). High blood pressure measurements showed a statistically significant association with age and marital status. Random blood sugar also showed a statistically significant association with age and cadre.
Conclusion: Overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity were highly prevalent, particularly among women. Age was associated with all four risk factors. Routine workplace screening and targeted lifestyle interventions are recommended.
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