Overweight and obesity are global health problems which are reported to account for 44% global burden of diabetes mellitus, 23% of ischaemic heart disease and 7-41% of some malignancies. The objective of the study was to describe the prevalence of non-communicable diseases amongst outpatient clinic attendees in Uyo in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study done between October 2011 and March 2012. Using a systematic sampling technique, 584 subjects aged 18-65 years were recruited, data were collected with a structured questionnaire. Subjects were measured for height, weight, waist and hip circumferences. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip-ratio (WHR) were calculated. Subjects with a BMI of 25.0 kg/m 2- 29.9 kg/m2 were regarded as being overweight whilst a BMI of > 30.0 kg/m2 was regarded as obese. Subjects with a WHR of > 0.90 for men or > 0.85 for women were regarded as having abnormal WHR. Of the 584 subjects, 196 (36.6%) were men and 388 (66.4%) women. The mean age for men was 43.3±17.8 years while the mean age for women was 50.2±13.6 years. The prevalence of overweight amongst men was 39.8% versus 31.7% for women; obesity in men was 28.0% versus 52.0% in women. There was a significant relationship between obesity and the presence of hypertension among respondents in this study (p=0.008). There was also a significant relationship between obesity and the presence of osteoarthritis among respondents in this study (p=0.043). Overweight and obesity are now common in our environment. The health consequences of obesity such as hypertension and osteoarthritis are also becoming more apparent. There is therefore need for more public about the health consequences of big body size.

 

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