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Research Article
Determination of Waist Circumference Thresholds for the Diagnosis of Abdominal Obesity in Adults of African Origin in the Maritime Region of Togo
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 6, December 2025
Pages:
365-377
Received:
1 October 2025
Accepted:
15 October 2025
Published:
31 October 2025
Abstract: Abdominal obesity is associated with a major risk of cardiometabolic diseases. The waist circumference thresholds currently used in Togo are based on European data and have not been validated for local African populations. This discrepancy can lead to diagnostic errors and suboptimal management. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal waist circumference thresholds for identifying the cardiometabolic factors characteristic of abdominal obesity. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 506 adults aged 15-59 years in the maritime region of Togo, including 119 subjects without metabolic disease for the establishment of reference intervals. The limits of 2.5 to 97.5 percentiles were used to determine the reference intervals. Biochemical analyses were performed in accordance with ISO 15189 requirements. The diagnostic thresholds associated with the presence of cardiometabolic risk factors were determined by analyzing the ROC curves using the Youden method. In women, waist circumference thresholds of 82, 86, 86 and 91 cm were significantly associated with: Total Cholesterol ≥2.0 g/l, Triglycerides ≥1.50 g/l, Blood Glucose ≥1.00 g/l and BP ≥130/85 mmHg, respectively. The optimal threshold was set at 91 cm. In men, waist circumference thresholds of 71, 73, 74, 82 and 93 cm were significantly associated with: triglycerides ≥1.50 g/l, Blood glucose ≥1.00 g/l, Blood glucose ≥1.26 g/l, Total cholesterol ≥2.0 g/l and blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg. The optimal threshold selected was 82 cm. This study establishes waist circumference thresholds specific to our black population in the maritime region of Togo: 91 cm for women and 82 cm for men. These values, which are lower than international standards, are significantly associated with the main cardiometabolic risk factors and enable better prevention of metabolic syndrome adapted to local characteristics.
Abstract: Abdominal obesity is associated with a major risk of cardiometabolic diseases. The waist circumference thresholds currently used in Togo are based on European data and have not been validated for local African populations. This discrepancy can lead to diagnostic errors and suboptimal management. The objective of this study was to determine the opti...
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Research Article
Association of General and Central Obesity with Health Literacy Among Adults in Southern Bangladesh
Shammy Akter*
,
Bably Sabina Azhar,
Md. Sohanur Islam,
Sadia Alam,
Md. Hasibul Hasan
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 6, December 2025
Pages:
378-382
Received:
23 September 2025
Accepted:
10 October 2025
Published:
12 November 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijnfs.20251406.12
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Abstract: Background: Obesity is a growing public health concern globally, contributing to multiple chronic diseases. Health literacy, defined as the ability to understand and apply health information, influences dietary and lifestyle behaviors, and may affect obesity outcomes. This study investigates the association between general obesity (BMI), central obesity (waist circumference), and health literacy among adults in southern Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 323 adults (162 males, 161 females) aged 18-65 years. Anthropometric measurements (BMI and WC) and the EU Health Literacy Score (HLS-EU) were collected. Data were analyzed using SPSS v28, including descriptive statistics, t-tests, and Pearson correlations. Results: Mean BMI was 25.1 ± 4.0 kg/m2, mean WC 86.2 ± 9.3 cm, and mean health literacy score 30.2 ± 8.1. Prevalence of overweight and obesity was 38% and 22%, respectively. BMI and WC positively correlated with age (r = 0.32, 0.29; p < 0.01) and negatively with health literacy (BMI: r = -0.21; WC: r = -0.18; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Both general and central obesity are prevalent among adults in southern Bangladesh, and lower health literacy is associated with higher obesity measures. Interventions targeting health literacy may improve obesity prevention and management.
Abstract: Background: Obesity is a growing public health concern globally, contributing to multiple chronic diseases. Health literacy, defined as the ability to understand and apply health information, influences dietary and lifestyle behaviors, and may affect obesity outcomes. This study investigates the association between general obesity (BMI), central ob...
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Research Article
Physical, Chemical, and Microbiological Characterization of a Flour with Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties for Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia in Togo
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 6, December 2025
Pages:
383-394
Received:
10 September 2025
Accepted:
15 October 2025
Published:
22 November 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijnfs.20251406.13
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Abstract: Problem: The medical management of sickle cell disease remains a challenge since its discovery as a genetically inherited disease. Growing interest in the nutritional problems associated with the disease has led to the development of nutritional alternatives as a means of reducing its morbidity and mortality. Objectives: The aim of this study is to develop a flour with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to reduce vaso-occlusive crises and improve the overall health of malnourished sickle cell patients. Materials and methods: The composition of the plant material used was designed based on a basic formulation from the nutrition division in collaboration with ITRA, consisting of corn, soybeans, and moringa. It was enriched with monkey bread, turmeric, and sesame, taking into account the recommendations of ANSES. This developed flour, flour C, consists of two subunits, flour A and flour B. The physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of this flour C were determined according to ISO standard methods. Results: The main results of the biochemical analyses gave the following values per 100 g of flour: 16.55% protein, 8.65% lipids, and 67.38% carbohydrates, with a theoretical caloric value of 413.57 kcal. The trace element content in mg/100g was as follows: iron 4.33; zinc 2.02; magnesium 2.51; sodium 5.53; potassium 9804.25; calcium 28.14; and phosphorus 315.18. Phytochemical compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties were identified: polyphenols, flavonoids, saponoside alkaloids, and vitamin C. Microbiological analyses revealed no salmonella or staphylococcus aureus, and yeast and mold counts were below the threshold (10 CFU/g). Conclusion: The flour analyzed can meet the protein and energy needs of sickle cell patients, but also help them combat crises related to the inflammatory impact and oxidative stress associated with the disease.
Abstract: Problem: The medical management of sickle cell disease remains a challenge since its discovery as a genetically inherited disease. Growing interest in the nutritional problems associated with the disease has led to the development of nutritional alternatives as a means of reducing its morbidity and mortality. Objectives: The aim of this study is to...
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Research Article
Nutritious Local Food and Health Status Overview of 44 Treated Obese Patients in a Dietetic Clinic of Golfe 2 Commune (Greater Lome): A Retrospective Study
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 6, December 2025
Pages:
395-404
Received:
5 October 2025
Accepted:
20 October 2025
Published:
26 November 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijnfs.20251406.14
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Abstract: The consumption of local food is one of the solutions often advocated to meet public health challenges emanating from the food transitions experienced by West African cities. However, this subject is weakly discussed with regard to scientific research in the field of food and nutrition in Greater Lome, the first urban center of Togo. Indeed, research aims to assess the effects of the diet based on healthy local foods during the global treatment of obesity in Golfe 2 Commune of Greater Lome. It is a retrospective study based on data collected from a dietetic clinic’s records concerning 44 obese patients. From their first consultation, participant’s data were recorded. A dietary survey was performed to gain insight into their eating habits as well as several body parameters. They were also proposed a diet based on local foods selected for their nutritional value and potential benefits. Anthropometric measurements and abdominal circumference of the patients was taken at the start of the program and during their subsequent visits. The results of the dietary survey revealed participants unhealthy eating habits: regularly, 50% consume fatty foods, 42.86% sugary foods and 96.43% stock cubes. These eating habits contributed to the patients’ overweight status. The comparison of the anthropometric measurements collected before and after the intervention showed a decrease in body mass index, from 35.16 kg/m² to 31.85 kg/m², reducing obesity and metabolic risk. Furthermore, a 6.23 cm reduction in abdominal circumference and a 1.44-point decrease in visceral fat score were noted. These data tend to suggest that diets based on healthy and nutritious local foods can represent an endogenous and sustainable contributing approach in combating obesity and promoting overall well-being.
Abstract: The consumption of local food is one of the solutions often advocated to meet public health challenges emanating from the food transitions experienced by West African cities. However, this subject is weakly discussed with regard to scientific research in the field of food and nutrition in Greater Lome, the first urban center of Togo. Indeed, resear...
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Research Article
Contribution to the Nutritional Management of Diabetes in Cote d’Ivoire: Table of Nutritional Values, Glycemic Index, and Glycemic Load of Traditional Foods
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 6, December 2025
Pages:
405-417
Received:
7 October 2025
Accepted:
21 October 2025
Published:
26 November 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijnfs.20251406.15
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Abstract: Diabetes mellitus is rapidly increasing in sub-Saharan Africa, while locally adapted nutritional tools remain scarce. In Cote d’Ivoire, therapeutic recommendations for people with diabetes are often based on foreign databases that do not reflect the composition or glycemic characteristics of local foods. This study aimed to establish an integrated Ivorian reference table combining nutritional composition, glycemic index (GI), and glycemic load (GL) of traditional foods to guide nutrition education, dietary counseling, and public health strategies. Thirty commonly consumed dishes, prepared from standardized recipes, were analyzed for their proximate composition and evaluated for glycemic response in 30 healthy adults under controlled conditions, following the ISO 26642:2010 protocol. Test portions were standardized to 50 g of available carbohydrate. Capillary glucose was measured from 0 to 120 minutes, and the incremental area under the curve (iAUC) was calculated using the trapezoidal method, excluding baseline values. GI was expressed as a percentage of glucose (reference = 100) and GL as (GI/100) × available carbohydrate per portion. GI and GL values varied widely depending on the recipe and portion size. High values were recorded for attieke (GI 63–88; GL 46–47), placali (GI 106; GL 16), and white rice (GI 54; GL 28). Conversely, mixed dishes such as toh + okra sauce (GI 57; GL 12), rice + peanut sauce (GI 46; GL 13), and pounded plantain + okra sauce (GI 35–65; GL 6–11) exhibited more favorable glycemic profiles compatible with diabetes dietary management. These findings emphasize the importance of evaluating complete meals rather than single foods when providing dietary guidance, as sauces rich in fiber, protein, and lipids (okra or peanut) substantially modulate postprandial glycemia. The study resulted in two standardized tables: (i) a nutritional composition table for Ivorian traditional dishes and (ii) a corresponding GI/GL table. Together, these constitute the first comprehensive national reference integrating both nutrient and glycemic characteristics of local mixed meals. The resulting tools are intended to improve diabetes care, promote culturally relevant nutrition counseling, and support dietary interventions within clinical and community settings. This approach offers a replicable model for other African contexts seeking to bridge the gap between traditional diets and evidence-based metabolic health management.
Abstract: Diabetes mellitus is rapidly increasing in sub-Saharan Africa, while locally adapted nutritional tools remain scarce. In Cote d’Ivoire, therapeutic recommendations for people with diabetes are often based on foreign databases that do not reflect the composition or glycemic characteristics of local foods. This study aimed to establish an integrated ...
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