Overweight, Obesity, and Lifestyle Practices among Adults at an Urban Market in Douala, Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
Background: Overweight and obesity represent a major public health crisis in urban sub-Saharan Africa. Cameroon records high urban overweight and obesity rates, yet empirical data specifically characterising lifestyle practices in high-risk urban commercial settings remain scarce.
Objective: To assess lifestyle modification practices and body mass index (BMI) categories among adults at Marché Tankho, Bonaberi, Douala, and to discuss implications for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 530 adults recruited by convenience sampling. Anthropometric measurements were obtained and BMI was calculated per WHO (2024) criteria. A structured, bilingual, pre-tested questionnaire assessed dietary habits, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS v26.0 and presented as frequencies and percentages.
Results: The largest single age group (38.9%) was 26–35 years; 71.5% were female; 47.5% had tertiary education. The combined overweight and obesity prevalence was 54.7% (overweight 42.1%; obesity 12.6%), exceeding the pooled national estimates for Cameroonian adults (26.0% overweight, 15.1% obesity) and situating this market population above the national reference point. Regular consumption of sugary drinks was reported by 70.9%, late-night eating by 64.7%, and fast food intake ≥3–4 times per week by 39.4%. Although 78.1% reported regular exercise, sedentary behaviour was high: 42.3% sat for 4–6 hours daily and 53.8% used motorised transport for short distances. Only 36.0% were classified as having a good overall dietary level.
Conclusion: Overweight and obesity are highly prevalent at Marché Tankho, and findings point to considerable gaps in protective lifestyle practices in this population. Based on these prevalence and lifestyle patterns rather than tested intervention evidence, multi-component, community-level interventions integrating nursing health promotion, physiotherapy-guided physical activity programming, and public health policy represent a reasonable policy direction to address this burden.
Downloads
PlumX Statistics
References
Amougou, N., Cohen, E., Boetsch, G., Pasquet, P., & Said-Mohamed, R. (2019). Epidemiology of overweight and obesity in adults living in Cameroon: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews, 20(7), 1126–1134. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12860
Assah, F. K., Ekelund, U., Brage, S., Mbanya, J. C., & Wareham, N. J. (2015). Patterns and correlates of objectively measured free-living physical activity in adults in rural and urban Cameroon. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 69(7), 717–722. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2014-205095
Bevan, S. (2015). Economic impact of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) on work in Europe. Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology, 29(3), 356–373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.berh.2015.08.002
Biswas, A., Oh, P. I., Faulkner, G. E., Bajaj, R. R., Silver, M. A., Mitchell, M. S., & Alter, D. A. (2015). Sedentary time and its association with risk for disease incidence, mortality, and hospitalization in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of Internal Medicine, 162(2), 123–132. https://doi.org/10.7326/M14-1651
Clegg, M. E., & Sheard, C. (2023). BMI as a health metric: A critical review of its use, limitations, and alternatives. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665123003956
Cochran, W. G. (1977). Sampling techniques (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
Creswell, J. W. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Dongmo, R., Gonsu, K. H., Nzuobontane, S. E., & Fon, P. N. (2023). Knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding obesity among population of urban (Douala) and rural (Manjo) areas in Cameroon. International Journal of Chronic Diseases, 2023, 5616856. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/5616856
Ferraris, C., & De Amicis, R. (2024). Nutritional counselling for lifestyle modification. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11, 1472316. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1472316
Ferreira, L., Nashandi, N., & Amaambo, E. (2025). Prevalence of obesity among adults in Otjomuise community in Namibia. Health SA Gesondheid, 30, 3074. https://doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v30i0.3074
GBD Obesity Collaborators. (2024). Global, regional, and national trends in overweight and obesity, 1990–2021: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet, 403(10444), 2736–2781. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02750-2
Hu, F. B. (2022). The role of sugar-sweetened beverages in the global epidemics of obesity and chronic diseases. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 18(4), 233–244. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-021-00627-6
Lavie, C. J., Laddu, D., Arena, R., Ortega, F. B., Alpert, M. A., & Kushner, R. F. (2018). Healthy weight and obesity prevention: JACC health promotion series. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 72(13), 1506–1531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2018.08.1030
Loos, R. J. F., & Yeo, G. S. H. (2022). The genetics of obesity: From discovery to biology. Nature Reviews Genetics, 23(2), 120–133. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41576-021-00414-z
Malik, V. S., Pan, A., Willett, W. C., & Hu, F. B. (2013). Sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain in children and adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 98(4), 1084–1102. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.113.058362
Mambrini, S. P., Menichetti, F., Ravella, S., Pellizzari, M., De Amicis, R., Foppiani, A., Battezzati, A., Bertoli, S., & Leone, A. (2023). Ultra-processed food consumption and incidence of obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors in adults: A systematic review of prospective studies. Nutrients, 15(11), 2583. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15112583
Meh, B. K. (2023b). Prevalence and coping strategies of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among healthcare workers in Douala, Cameroon: A cross-sectional study. London Journal of Medical Health Research, 23(8), 11–25.
Meh, B. K., Bopda, O. S. M., Ndongo, J. M., Buh, F. C., Lélé, C. E. B., Ayina, C. N. A., Ndemba, P. B. A., Sako, E. H., Bongue, B., & Mandengue, S. H. (2023a). Relation between body mass index, blood pressure, heart rate and work-related musculoskeletal disorders among healthcare workers in some reference hospitals in Douala, Cameroon. Open Journal of Preventive Medicine, 13(5), 109–131. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojpm.2023.135011
Meh, B. K., Sunjo, A. B., Amaka, S. R. C., Achuo, B. Z., Sih, M. P., & Akwa, G. M. (2026). Prevalence, risk factors and coping strategies of low back pain among healthcare professionals at the Bamenda Regional Hospital, Northwest Region, Cameroon. Acta Scientific Medical Sciences, 10(6), 10–18. https://doi.org/10.31080/ASMS.2026.10.2240
Nadal, I. P., Angkurawaranon, C., Singh, A., Choksomngam, Y., Sadana, V., Kock, L., Wattanapisit, A., Wiwatkunupakarn, N., & Kinra, S. (2024). Effectiveness of behaviour change techniques in lifestyle interventions for non-communicable diseases: An umbrella review. BMC Public Health, 24, 3082. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20612-8
Nature Editorial. (2025). Too many Mr Bigs: Africa’s obesity crisis comes into focus. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/d44148-025-00292-1
Owen, N., Healy, G. N., Matthews, C. E., & Dunstan, D. W. (2010). Too much sitting: The population-health science of sedentary behavior. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 38(3), 105–113. https://doi.org/10.1097/JES.0b013e3181e373a2
Peiris, C. L., Gallagher, A., Taylor, N. F., & McLean, S. (2023). Behaviour change techniques improve adherence to physical activity recommendations for adults with metabolic syndrome. Patient Preference and Adherence, 17, 689–697. https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S395994
Peters, B., Vahlhaus, J., & Pivovarova-Ramich, O. (2024). Meal timing and its role in obesity and associated diseases. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 15, 1359772. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2024.1359772
Swinburn, B. A., Sacks, G., Hall, K. D., McPherson, K., Finegood, D. T., Moodie, M. L., & Gortmaker, S. L. (2011). The global obesity pandemic: Shaped by global drivers and local environments. The Lancet, 378(9793), 804–814. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60813-1
United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development. United Nations. https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
Vujovic, N., Piber, M., Centofanti, S., Staff, J., Ricart, K., Casanova-Vallve, J., Weir, E. K., Scheer, F. A. J. L., & Czeisler, C. A. (2022). Late isocaloric eating increases hunger, decreases energy expenditure, and modifies metabolic pathways in adults with overweight and obesity. Cell Metabolism, 34(10), 1486–1498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2022.09.007
World Health Organization. (2024). Obesity and overweight: Fact sheet. WHO. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
Zderic, T. W., & Hamilton, M. T. (2023). Physiology of sedentary behavior. Physiological Reviews, 103(4), 2561–2608. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00022.2022
Zhu, S., Sinha, D., Kirk, M., Michalopoulou, M., Hajizadeh, A., Wren, G., Doody, P., Mackillop, L., Smith, R., Jebb, S. A., & Astbury, N. M. (2024). Effectiveness of behavioural interventions with motivational interviewing on physical activity outcomes in adults: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ, 386, e078713. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-078713
Copyright (c) 2026 Beauty Elee Chioma, Ulrich Herlick Zeuton Nguefack, Brenda Fon Akrukem, Precious Ubah Chioma, Happiness Amamchukwu Chidubem, Blessing Ubochi Ihuoma, Basil Kum Meh
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
