Nutrition and Food Chemistry

Biography

Biography: Xolile Mkhize

Abstract

Adulthood obesity particularly among women is a growing concern that can be exacerbated by menopause. This also leads to a declining metabolic rate causing obesity as well as central obesity. These factors impact women’s health and can compromise agricultural production. The objective of the study was to determine the nutritional status which included anthropometrics to determine BMI, WC, WTHR scores among women who are actively involved in farming which is perceived as a form of physical exercise. The study was descriptive in nature comprised of 89 women between ages of 43- 85 years with a mean age of 63.3. All participants selected were part of the municipal agricultural programme database. Participants gave willing consent to participate in the study. This investigation was part of the Ethekwini municipality initiative. Results indicated that the majority of the women were generally obese (>30->40) at 70.7% followed by those overweight (25-29.99) at 18.0% which suggests that almost 88.7% of the population was over-nourished. Respondents who were within the normal weight (18.5-24.99) were 7.9% while only 3.4% were underweight (<18.5). The majority of women exceeded (84.3%) the cut off points for waist circumference (˃88 cm) while a minority (15.7%) were within the recommended scores (≤ 88 cm). These results correlate with the BMI of women being obese in two forms. However, central obesity was a higher form of obesity detected when comparing the two. Waist to hip ratio (Wthr) as metabolic risk factor was exceeded (≥05) by 88.8% of the population while 11.2% were within the recommended scores (<0.5). Agricultural activity as a form of physical exercise among small holder farmers did not address obesity prevalence. Interventions should investigate dietary intake as well as other risk factors to address this challenge among these farmers.