Background: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate whether bio-behavioural factors are associated with blood pressure and body composition in rural black South African women.
Methods: Data were collected on 200 African women living in the Tshino Nesengani (Mukondeleli) village, Limpopo Province using simple anthropometry, blood pressure, and validated self-reported questionnaires for sleep, physical activity, and sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption.
Results: Six patterns of SSB consumption were determined by principal component analysis. Regression analysis showed that longer sleep duration (?9 hours/night) was associated with lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures; whilst principal component 2 (beer, wine, and sweetened tea) was associated with higher body mass index.
Conclusions: These findings highlight novel bio-behavioural contributors of blood pressure and body anthropometry in rural African women.
The determinants of overweight/obesity and blood pressure in rural South African women living in the Tshino Nesengani (Mukondeleli) village