RISK FACTORS ASSOCCIATED WITH OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY AMONG REPRODUCTIVE AGED FEMALE RESIDING IN DAMAK MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

The study was intended to assess risk factors associated with overweight/obesity among females residing in Damak municipality. A cross-sectional qualitative study was performed on 202 reproductive-aged females of 15-49 years of age with a structured questionnaire. Weight, height, waist and hip circumference were measured to determine indicators of overweight and obesity. General obesity was determined using WHO BMI classification while, WC and WHR analyzed abdominal obesity as per IDF and WHO criteria respectively. For data analysis, Microsoft package 16 (Excel and Word) and SPSS Statistics version 20 was used. Chi-square test was used to establish association between variables under study. The study revealed 31.7% of respondents were overweight and 8.4% were obese; 63.4% of them were abdominally obese by WC and 71.8% by WHR. Here, mean BMI was 25.36±4.56 kg/m2 and mean WC was 89.69±12.47 cm with mean WHR of 0.91±0.09. Age, marital status, family size, parity, sleeping hours, eating pattern, protein intake, consumption of dairy, eggs and whole cereals were factors found significantly associated (p<0.05) with overweight and obesity. While, age, marital status, education, occupation, family size, parity, contraceptive use were common factors associated with abdominal obesity (WC and WHR). However, family history, protein intake, consumption of wheat and eggs were associated (p<0.05) only with WC. The study depicted high prevalence of overweight and obesity among reproductive aged females in Damak. Thus, overweight and obesity should be viewed as a serious issue. Awareness should be generated among general population about risk factors of obesity.