Eating Habits of Young People in Brazzaville Suffering from Abdominal Obesity

An unbalanced diet has always been a major cause of many nutritional diseases and pathologies in several African countries. This study aimed to examine a major public health problem: The prevalence of abdominal obesity among young people in Brazzaville. It highlights dietary practices and lifestyle factors as potential contributing factors to this phenomenon. Method: Dietary history was the method used. It allowed for the collection of information on the patients’ eating habits. Results: Regarding the distribution of patients according to age, sex, and waist circumference, this study revealed that men and women aged 20 to 25 and 25 to 30, respectively, had a higher proportion of waist circumferences (120 to 150 cm) than other age groups. Regarding body mass index (BMI), the results showed that the majority of patients with abdominal obesity had a normal BMI (18.5 ≤ BMI ≤ 24.9), classifying them as non-obese according to this parameter. As for their dietary history, the results showed that these patients had an unbalanced and monotonous diet, inadequate for their nutritional needs, leading to excesses or deficiencies in certain nutrients. They also had a habit of snacking before and after meals, consuming excessive amounts of sugary, alcoholic, and carbonated beverages throughout the day, and eating foods high in saturated fats (meats, chicken thighs), often accompanied by mayonnaise. Low fruit and vegetable consumption was also observed. Conclusion: This is why it is clear that abdominal obesity can also be caused by a poor diet.