Overweight and obesity among adult attendees at a primary health care center in Amman-Jordan

ABSTRACT

To describe the relationship between demographic characteristics and some diseases among obese attendees at a primary health care center. One thousand overweight, obese and morbid obese adults were compared to an equal number of normal- weight attendees, [matched by age, sex and residency] aged 18 years and older. Data were collected using a medical record abstract form. Normal weight, overweight, obese and morbid obese participants were measured using the Body Mass Index values. Participants in the study group were more obese in the youngest age groups and in the fifties. Obesity was associated with low levels of education, unemployment, low family income, physical inactivity and family history. There was a highly significant relation between obesity and some chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, heart diseases, respiratory disorders, and osteoarthritis. Health care providers should be aware of obesity problems in the community as it is a risk factor for many chronic diseases and the measurements [height and weight] should be documented in the medical records