To assess prevalence of overweight/obesity and associated factors in a group of university undergraduates in southeast Nigeria. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Five tertiary institutions in southeast Nigeria. Methods: A total of 1610 undergraduates were selected using multistage sampling. A validated questionnaire on sociodemographic, dietary and lifestyle factors was used. Variables studied included body mass index (BMI), waist:hip ratio (WHR) and blood pressure (BP). Descriptive statistics and Chi square test were used for data analyses. Results: Prevalence of obesity and overweight were 6.5% [4.2% males; 8.4% females (p < 0.05)] and 13.4% [8.4% males; 17.7% females (p < 0.05)], respectively. A higher prevalence of central obesity and abdominal obesity was found in the females (15.7% and 27.2%, respectively) compared to the males (1.1% and 2.4%, respectively) (p < 0.05). Consumption of unhealthy snack foods (X 2 = 13.39), being a female (X 2 = 47.91), first year student (X 2 = 41.82), and having high systolic (X 2 = 88.18) and diastolic (X 2 = 10.17) BP were associated with obesity (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Prevalence of obesity was high in the studied population and, if left unchecked, portends deleterious consequences, especially with respect to the development of cardiovascular diseases.

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Vitamin A deficiency is a major public health problem in Nigeria. Staple crops are targeted by biofortification efforts because they possess low micronutrient density and are consumed in large quantities by a large proportion of poor households. This study was designed to assess the knowledge, perception and utilization of biofortified cassava and orange-fleshed sweet potato in selected Local government Areas in Abia and Imo States. The study was descriptive and cross-sectional in design. A total of 710 respondents were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to elicit the required information. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics(frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation)and inferential(correlation)analysis. Socio-demographic data revealed a preponderance of females, married, well-educated and working-class respondents. Monthly income above ₦29,000(US$ 70.54) and household size of 4-6 members were reported in 53.5% and 48.6% of the respondents. Study results further revealed that some (34.9%)of the respondents had good knowledge, while 46.1% and 19.0% had an average and poor knowledge of biofortified staples, respectively. Orange fleshed sweet potatoes and biofortified cassava were purchased at least once monthly by 73.7% of the respondents, however 16.5% and 27.5% of the respondents consumed these biofortified staples on a daily and weekly basis. Low positive perception towards the consumption (27.5%), benefits (39.6%) and barriers (16.9%) of utilizing studied biofortified staples was reported. A positive correlation was observed between respondents’ knowledge of biofortified staples and their benefits perception (p = 0.003), purchase (p =0.001) and consumption (p= 0.001) frequency.Therefore, while a good number of the respondents were fairly knowledgeable about the studied biofortified staples, it significantly influenced the perception and utilization of these staples, despite being reportedly low. Therefore, increased sensitization, price subsidy and availability of these biofortified staples will help improvetheir acceptance and utilization among rural households.

The structure of the European Union producer price indices, nominal total agricultural production varies from one country to another. The EU agricultural price indices involve the index of producer prices of agricultural products and the index of purchase prices of the means of agricultural production. The purpose of agricultural price indices is to unveil trends in the prices of individual agricultural products and purchase prices of the means of agricultural production. Moreover, the objective of the applying statistics on agricultural prices is to make comparisons between member states and also for economic analyses. Absolute agricultural prices are needed for many model calculations and for the ascertainment of price elasticity. The means through which these objectives could be achieved are believed to be when the absolute prices are compared between the member states, and also, when the products for which the prices from the respective member state are to be recorded for economic relevance. These objectives are not always compatible and sometimes require some compromise. In this study, we evaluate the price indices of domestic agricultural production as a whole in the EU24, using the most accurate association model of the Categorical Data Analysis. Figures from the Eurostat office calculated on annual base year from 2005-2017 were used to analyse this study. Since the main focus is to have a better understanding of producer price indices, nominal total domestic agricultural production, the analysis of association table (ANOAS) is given in order to ascertain the percentage of the data which is covered by each model. We find and estimate the association model with the best fit and in conclusion we find out that the Row-Effects Association Model (R) has the best fit because it covers 93% of the data, thereby giving the best fit among all.

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