Abstract:
Overweight and obesity is becoming one of the major public health problems in
developing countries. There were numerous factors that affect in increasing overweight
and obesity. A cross sectional study was conducted in 20-59 years adults in Pathari
Sanischare Municipality. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social
Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and Microsoft package 10 (Excel and Word). Chi-square
tests were performed to establish the association between different categories, and
analysis was performed to establish the strength and direction of the relationship between
variables. Body Mass Index (BMI) was used to determine generalized overweight and
obesity using WHO international classification. Waist circumference (WC) and waist to
hip ratio (WHR) was analyzed using IDF and WHO criteria respectively.
The study revealed that 53.8% of adults were overweight and obese as per BMI
classification where 39.2% were overweight and 14.6 were obese. Likewise 79% male
and 75.5% female of were abdominally obese using WHO i.e. WHR >0.9 for male and
WHR>0.85 criteria while 45.5% male and 76.2% female were abdominally obese using
IDF criteria WC>90cm for male and WC>80cm for female. Factors such as age, marital
status, drink, calorie intake and physical adequacy (P<0.005) all were significant
predictors of overweight and obesity in the study as per BMI. Age, marital status, calorie
intake, dairy products and fast foods were significantly associated (P<0.005) with waist
circumference. Similarly, age, marital status stress, calorie intake, physical activity and
fast food were significantly associated (P<0.005) with WHR. The findings were a clear
evidence of the rising trends of overweight and obesity in 20-59 aged adults.
