A systematic review and meta-analysis performed on a large number of subjects in Nigeria indicated that the respective prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 26% and 15.0%, with an increasing trend, especially among urban dwellers. 4 A study conducted in the Enugu metropolis (South-Eastern region of Nigeria) reported that obesity increased the odds of hypertension by as much as 50%. 5 It is well recognized that increased body mass is an important CVD risk factor contributing to the current epidemic of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) particularly with its association with metabolic syndrome, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance.
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