Nutritious Local Food and Health Status Overview of 44 Treated Obese Patients in a Dietetic Clinic of Golfe 2 Commune (Greater Lome): A Retrospective Study

The consumption of local food is one of the solutions often advocated to meet public health challenges emanating from the food transitions experienced by West African cities. However, this subject is weakly discussed with regard to scientific research in the field of food and nutrition in Greater Lome, the first urban center of Togo. Indeed, research aims to assess the effects of the diet based on healthy local foods during the global treatment of obesity in Golfe 2 Commune of Greater Lome. It is a retrospective study based on data collected from a dietetic clinic’s records concerning 44 obese patients. From their first consultation, participant’s data were recorded. A dietary survey was performed to gain insight into their eating habits as well as several body parameters. They were also proposed a diet based on local foods selected for their nutritional value and potential benefits. Anthropometric measurements and abdominal circumference of the patients was taken at the start of the program and during their subsequent visits. The results of the dietary survey revealed participants unhealthy eating habits: regularly, 50% consume fatty foods, 42.86% sugary foods and 96.43% stock cubes. These eating habits contributed to the patients’ overweight status. The comparison of the anthropometric measurements collected before and after the intervention showed a decrease in body mass index, from 35.16 kg/m² to 31.85 kg/m², reducing obesity and metabolic risk. Furthermore, a 6.23 cm reduction in abdominal circumference and a 1.44-point decrease in visceral fat score were noted. These data tend to suggest that diets based on healthy and nutritious local foods can represent an endogenous and sustainable contributing approach in combating obesity and promoting overall well-being.