Analysis of Libyan Family Pedigrees in Tripoli to Predict Obesity and Cardiometabolic Disorders in Adult

By: Mohamed Algriw , Abdulhakem Elnefati , Manal Emhaia

Department of Zoology - Faculty of Science - University of Tripoli

Issue: Vol 21 |First Issue | 2015

article language: English

Abstract:

Weight gain has become a prevalent and increasing phenomenon in many societies. Several studies have reported a potential association between obesity and various pathological conditions. The aim of this study is to analyze the prevalence of obesity in different age groups of the Libyan population and to assess the possible correlation between parents' health status and their offspring's health status to predict the likelihood of developing obesity and cardiometabolic disorders such as diabetes and hypertension. This study relied on a random sample from different age groups of school students in Tripoli. The total sample size was 865 individuals (460 males and 405 females). The age groups were as follows: children (5-11 years), adolescents (12-17 years), and young adults (18-25 years). The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) reference standard was used to classify the samples into one of the following groups: non-obese, overweight, or obese. The results showed that the overweight and obese groups increased progressively with age. The study also recorded that overweight was highly prevalent in young adults (males and females), followed by adolescents and children. The obesity rate was high in young adults of both sexes (29.5% for males and 33.6% for females). It was also observed that the obesity rate was 1.1 times higher in females than in males. Obesity is closely related to genetic and environmental factors, leading to several serious diseases. As in the world, obesity in Libyan society is continuously increasing, and there is an urgent need to develop a plan to reduce the obesity rate in the Libyan community. This phenomenon requires the attention of researchers to conduct further studies and research to identify the causes of this disease and the possibility of treatment or containment.