Comorbidities of Obesity in a Rural African Population Residing in Limpopo Province, South Africa: A Comparison between General and Central Obesity

Obesity is a growing epidemic that threatens to deplete healthcare resources by increasing the prevalence of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and chronic kidney disease. The prevalence of general and central obesity among the rural Black population in Limpopo Province is high; however, few studies have evaluated the association between obesity and its comorbidities among the rural Black population, and, hence, this study aims to determine the relationship between obesity and associated comorbidities. This study was cross-sectional and retrospective in design, using secondary data from the Africa Wits-INDEPTH Partnership for Genomic (AWI-Gen) research phase 1 study. A sample size of 791 participants was collected conveniently. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27 (SPSS). A chi-square, unpaired Student’s t-test, bivariate and partial correlation, and multivariate regression analysis were used for analysis. General obesity correlated positively and significantly with LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and hypertension, while central obesity correlated positively and significantly with diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, LDL-C/HDL-C ratio, and TC/HDL-C ratio. In the present study, obese participants were more likely to be hypertensive, and have an increased LDL-C/HDL-C ratio. Centrally obese participants were more likely to be diabetic, hypertensive, have dyslipidaemia, and exhibit reduced kidney function.