Risk Factors for Obesity and Overweight in Goa, India: A community based Case-Control Study

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Obesity is a chronic disease, which is knownto affect all the age groups and is prevalent in both developedand developing countries. Environmental factors like affluentlife style, high energy diet, sedentary life style, discardingold family traditions with regards to eating, exercise, outdooractivity, the couch potato culture and others have led to obesity. Furthermore, obesity is also a key risk factor in the naturalhistory of other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).Material and methods: A Community based case controlStudy was conducted in an urban community in Goa, India.106 cases group matched to 106 controls constituted thestudy sample. Cases included Obese or overweight individualwithin the age group of 30-60 years. Cases were selectedduring household survey while controls were taken in theneighbourhood of the cases. A structured questionnaire wasused to get information on general demographics, personalhabits which included diet, smoking, drinking of alcohol.Physical activity was assessed using the WHO Global PhysicalActivity Questionnaire (GPAQ).Examination and laboratory investigations were conducted.The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee.Informed written consent was obtained from all the studyparticipants. The data was analysed using SPSS softwarepackage version 22.0. Odds ratio, chi square test, t test andmultiple logistic regressions were used to analyse the data.Results: Low Physical activity, less sleep duration, mixed dietas opposed to vegetarian diet, non-vegetarian serving 2 to 4times a week, calorie intake in excess of recommended intake,low fruit consumption were found to be the significant riskfactors both in univariate and multiple logistic regression.Conclusion: Considering the rising prevalence of obesityand the consequent complications, there is an urgent needto address these risk factors through health education, riskreduction interventions and other innovative strategies.