Prevalence of obesity, abdominal obesity and the associated factors among a group of Turkish adults

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity and some causative factors. In this cross-sectional study were included 1066 adults [527 men, 539 women] ranging in age from 18 to 59 years old studying in Ankara, Turkey. Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences of adults were measured, Body Mass Index [BMI] and Waist Hip Ratio [WHR] were calculated. The association between age, nutritional factors and BMI, waist circumference and WHR were evaluated. The overall prevalence of obesity was 9.7% and overweight was 34.8%. The prevalence of abdominal obesity was 21.6% in men, 41.4% in women. Obesity and abdominal obesity was positively associated with daily energy intake, percentage of energy from fats, sugar intakes, whereas it was negatively associated with daily fiber, calcium intake and age. It would be useful to examine the factors related to obesity and abdominal obesity in the prevention of obesity in adults