ABSTRACT
The study aimed to identify desirable social, familial, reproductive, dietary, and lifestyle factors for maintaining normal body mass index (BMI) of urban affl uent women (25-45 years) in Delhi, India. A total of 387 urban affl uent women with at least one living child participated in this cross-sectional study conducted from March 2008 to April 2010. Women were classifi ed into four BMI categories on the basis of World Health Organization (WHO; 2004) classifi cation for Asians. Signifi cant factors for maintaining normal BMI were: Younger age, less parity, nuclear family, normal weight status of parents, postpartum weight gain between 2 and 3 kg, regularity in taking meals, fi xed meal size, self-perceived normal weight, and shorter sitting time and television viewing time. Multivariate regression analysis identifi ed fi ve determining factors for maintaining BMI, which are normal weight of father, self-perceived normal weight, fi xed meal size, sitting time less than 6 h/day, and television viewing time less than 1 h/day. By small lifestyle modifi cations, normal BMI can be maintained.