Browsing by Author "Wachira, Lucy-Joy"

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    Association between dietary behaviours and weight status of school children: results from the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE) -Kenya
    (Taylor & Francis, 2020) Wachira, Lucy-Joy; Muthuri, Stella; Ochola, Sophie; Onywera, Vincent; Tremblay, Mark
    Background: Sub-Saharan African countries are undergoing rapid urbanization resulting in vast changes in dietary habits. Dietary practices involving excess energy intake have been associated with overweight/obesity. We assessed the dietary behaviour of children and their relationships with weight status. Methods: Data was collected in Kenya, as part of the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE). The study recruited 563 children aged 9–11 years from 29 schools in Nairobi. A seven-day food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake. Dietary behaviours such as consumption of breakfast, school lunch, meals prepared/eaten away from home, emotional eating and snacking while watching television were also assessed. Body mass index (BMI-for-age and sex) was used as the indicator of weight status. Results: Of the sample, 53.5% were girls; 20.8% were classified as overweight/ obese; 72.9% ate meals out of home regularly; 55.2% ate lunch provided by the school; and only 76% had breakfast on all weekdays. Eating more when happy, eating fried foods while watching television, and consumption of vegetables were positively associated with BMI. Majority of overweight children were female (56.6%) and the type of school attended predicted BMI, F(6, 536) = 18.371, p < 0.0001, R2 = 0.171. BMI was negatively associated with consumption of cakes/pastries (χ2 = 14.7, V = 0.165, p = 0.023), potato crisps (χ2 = 21.6, V = 0.197, p = 0.003), and fast foods (χ2 = 13.5, p = 0.036). ANOVA results revealed no significant differences in the consumption of foods with BMI except for vegetables (p = 0.003). Conclusions: Children have healthy diets rich in fruits and vegetables and low in energy-dense foods. Also, less healthy diets were observed in children with lower BMI. There is need for interventions targeting the overweight/obese children, particularly those of higher SES.
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    Effects of aerobic dance on systolic blood pressure in stage one hypertensive adults in Uganda
    (BMJ GROUP, 2025) Nahwera,Loyce; Boit,Edwin Kiptolo; Nsibambi, Constance A.N.; Maghanga,Mshilla; Wachira, Lucy-Joy
    BSTRACT Objective To investigate the effects of a 12-week aerobic dance programme on systolic blood pressure (SBP) in stage one hypertensive adults. Methods This study employed an experimental research design. 36 out of 58 stage one hypertensive adults randomly assigned into experimental and control groups completed the programme. SBP was measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer at baseline and post programme. The experimental group participants trained thrice a week, 45min per session, and at a moderate intensity, but the control group continued doing their daily routines. Data were analysed using SPSS V.20. A two-tailed t-test was used to compare the mean differences of the two groups. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The experimental group had a mean SBP of 143.83±6.382mm Hg at baseline, while the control had 137.61±6.400mm Hg. After a 12-week aerobic dance programme, the mean SBP of the experimental group reduced to 136.33±9.191mm Hg, while that of the control group increased to 139.56±9.954mm Hg. This implies that the 12-week aerobic dance programme reduced the SBP of the experimental group by −7.50mm Hg while that of the control group remained more or less the same by having a marginal increment of 1.50mm Hg. The changes were statistically significant (p<0.002) after a 12-week aerobic dance programme. Conclusion The aerobic dance programme effectively manages the SBP of stage one hypertensive adults. In Uganda, stakeholders and policymakers should consider incorporating aerobic dance as a non-pharmacological method for hypertension management protocols.