Objective: To determine the prevalence and type of obesity in adult population in Karbala city and its correlation with age, sex, social class, educational level, occupation, history of chronic medical diseases, and family history of obesity.
Design: Population-based observational study.
Setting: Al Hussein Hospital in Karbala city.
Subjects: A total of 1545 companion of patients attending the outpatient clinic in Al Hussain hospital. They were 844 men and 701 women and aged 20-81 years.
Methods: Socio-demographic data collected includes age, sex, socioeconomic status, educational level, type of work, presence of chronic medical diseases, and family history of obesity. Anthropometric indices including weight, height, and waist circumference were measured. Individuals with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/ m2 were considered obese. Abdominal obesity was considered when waist circumference ≥102 cm for men and ≥ 88 cm for women. The results were statistically analyzed using SPSS program.
Results: Of the 1545 individuals who were examined in this study 453 (29.3%) were obese, 485 (31.4%) were overweight, 519 (33.6%) had normal body weight and 88 (5.7%) were underweight. The average BMI was higher in women Abdominal obesity was determined in 51.5% of women and 13.3% of men. Positive correlations were determined between BMI and age, and family history of obesity, and waist circumference. The prevalence of obesity showed a positive correlation with age and it is higher in individuals with low educational level.
Conclusion: Obesity affects about 30% of adult population in Karbala, and it is higher in women. Abdominal obesity affect more than 50% of women. This high prevalence of obesity should be described as an epidemic which demands community based multiple strategies to control and to treat affected individuals. |