Analysis of Household Dietary Transition Patterns and Obesity Risk Among Adults in Maiduguri, Borno State, North East Nigeria

Nutrition transition, characterised by a shift from traditional plant-based diets to energy-dense, ultra-processed food consumption, is increasingly associated with rising overweight and obesity rates in Nigerian cities. In Maiduguri, Borno State, this transition is occurring amidst persistent food security challenges, creating a dual burden of malnutrition. This study analysed household dietary transition patterns and their relationship to obesity risk among adults in Maiduguri, Borno State, North East Nigeria. A cross-sectional analytical design was employed, with 300 adults aged twenty-five to sixty years recruited from urban and peri-urban communities through stratified random sampling. Dietary patterns were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and principal component analysis identified dominant dietary patterns. Obesity was determined through BMI and waist circumference measurements. Logistic regression was used to assess dietary pattern associations with obesity risk. Three dietary patterns were identified: a traditional Kanuri diet, a mixed urban diet, and a Western fast food diet. Adherence to the Western fast food pattern was significantly associated with overweight and abdominal obesity after adjustment for confounders. Sedentary lifestyle and television viewing time amplified dietary risk. The traditional Kanuri diet was inversely associated with obesity risk. The study recommends culturally grounded dietary guidelines and obesity prevention programmes for Maiduguri. Keywords: dietary transition, obesity, nutrition patterns, Maiduguri, Borno State