Blood pressure and body size preference in traditional communities of Ilorin metropolis, Nigeria

Background Our previous work showed that many individuals with type 2 diabetes and in the background population may prefer larger body sizes. This prompted us to study the interaction between body size, body size perception and blood pressure. Methods Anthropometric variables, body size perception and blood pressure were measured in adults of three Nigerian communities. The results were subjected to tests of correlation and regression to determine any association/functional relationship between predictor variables and blood pressure. Results Participants with elevated blood pressure were older (52.75 vs. 39.58 years) and had a higher BMI (24.50 vs. 22.84), waist circumference (86.69 vs. 81.57) and hip circumference (95.23 vs. 92.49) compared with normotensives. There were significant (P Conclusion The results indicated a dominant preference for larger body sizes, whereas body dimension predicted blood pressure only to a very limited degree.