Adherence
Urban residence, higher socioeconomic status, and female sex are significantly associated with increased prevalence of overweight, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes in sub-Saharan African populations, contradicting the traditional view that these conditions are primarily diseases of affluence in high-income countries.
If you live in an urbanizing area, your risk for obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes is significantly higher than if you lived in a rural subsistence farming environment, regardless of your income level. Focus on maintaining physical activity and monitoring blood pressure and blood sugar, as these conditions are emerging rapidly in these populations.
Overweight and obesity, hypertension, and diabetes were highly prevalent, more so in urban residents, the less poor, and better educated than in rural, the poorest, and least educated participants.
Why this rating
Large cross-sectional population-based study (n=28,891) with rigorous measurement protocols.
Source
Prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes, and cascade of care in sub-Saharan Africa: a cross-sectional, population-based study in rural and urban Malawi
Alison Price et al. · The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology · 2018
DOI 10.1016/s2213-8587(17)30432-1
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- Urban women face the highest risk of multimorbidity (having two or more of hypertension, diabetes, or obesity) compared to rural women and men in either setting.Good
- A significant proportion of individuals with diagnosed hypertension or diabetes in this population have poorly controlled conditions, with less than half of those on medication achieving target blood glucose or blood pressure levels.Good
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- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
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