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This cross sectional study recruited 623 adolescents aged 10 to 19 years randomly selected from secondary schools in Ibadan. Height and weight were measured. Parents’ socioeconomic status was grouped as high, middle and low. PBF was assessed using Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA). Participants’ PBF for age and sex were classified as low (<5th), normal (5th – 95th) and high (>95th) percentiles of the study population respectively.
Mean age was 14.5±2.1 years and 60.0% were female. Participants were from families in low (19.6%), middle (51.7%) and high (28.7%) socioeconomic categories. Overall, mean PBF was 12.6±7.1%. Mean PBF for male 8.5±5.6% was lower than 14.9±6.7% for female (p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between PBF and age among female (r = 0.064, p>0.05) but a significant negative correlation was observed among male participants (r = -0.224, p<0.05). Mean PBF of low, middle and high socioeconomic status were not significantly different in both sexes (p>0.05). Proportion of adolescent PBF <5th and >95th percentiles were 3.9% and 19.9% respectively. Prevalence of PBF >95th percentile was higher among male (28.1%) than female (14.4%) adolescents (p<0.05). Slightly more female participants (4.3%) than male (3.2%) had PBF <5th percentile (p<0.05).
Male adolescents were likely to rise above 95th percentile of percentage body fat estimates for age and sex irrespective of socioeconomic status. There is the need to initiate programmes that may enhance early identification of adolescents with the tendency of accumulating excess fat.
Learning Objectives: 1.Describe the relationship between percentage body fat (PBF) and age of male and female Nigerian adolescents. 2.Recognize that risk of excess body fat might not be associated with socioeconomic status. 3.Identify the importance of early identification and preventive measures against obesity.