Background: In many developing countries overweight, obesity and obesity-related morbidity are becoming a problem of increasing importance. Obese individuals are more likely to have elevated total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and decreased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Objective: To determine the prevalence of obesity using the measure of body mass index (BMI) and abnormal lipid level and the association between obesity and abnormal lipid level among adults in Ogbomoso, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of 400 adults aged 18 years and above was carried out at the Baptist Medical Centre, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. Participants were administered a standardized questionnaire and had measurements of weight, height and blood lipids taken. Results: Four hundred subjects were randomly selected (221 females and 179 males) with a mean age of 48.65 ± 16.56 years. The overall prevalence of obesity was 14.75% (8.9% for males and 19.5% for females p<0.05). The female subjects were significantly more sedentary than the males (50.8% for males, 62.4% for females, p<0.05). Most of the subjects who were obese (88.1%) preferred high calorie food. The overall prevalence of abnormal lipid levels was 28.5% (26.8% for males and 29.9% for females). The prevalence of abnormal lipid levels among the subjects who were obese was 40.7%. Conclusion: Obesity in this environment is particularly significant among females and is associated with abnormal lipid level.

Background: Economic development and urbanization in many developing countries has led to a nutritional transition characterized by a shift to a higher caloric content of diet and/or to the reduction of physical activity, and whose consequences are changes in the body composition of the individuals and elevated blood lipid levels. This study's aim was to determine the lipid profile and to determine if there is any association between lipid profile and abdominal obesity among adults attending the outpatient clinic at the Baptist Medical Centre, Ogbomoso, a semi urban environment. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of 400 adults aged 18 years and above was carried out. Participants were administered a standardized questionnaire and had measurements of waist circumference and serum lipids taken. Results: Four hundred subjects were randomly selected (221 females and 179 males) with a mean age of 48.65 ± 16.56 years. The mean total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, Triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol were 3.78 ± 1.07 mmol/L, 1.18 ± 1.02 mmol/L, 0.97 ± 0.58 mmol/L and 2.15 ± 0.86 mmol/L respectively. The prevalence of abdominal obesity among the study population was 33.75%. The subjects who had abdominal obesity had the highest mean values for total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol. The mean values of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol obtained among the physically inactive subjects were higher than those of the subjects who were physically active. Conclusion: Higher mean values for total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDLcholesterol were found among the subjects who had abdominal obesity and those who were physically inactive in Ogbomoso.