Assessment of frequency and the risk factors of obesity based on body mass index in 1031 healthy adults from North West frontier province of Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Obesity is a growing health problem both in the developed and developing world. No study has been reported on the frequency of obesity in North West Frontier Province. In this study we found out the frequency and the risk factors for obesity based on body mass index [BMI] in 1031 adults healthy volunteers. This study was carried out at Hayatabad Medical Complex [HMC] and Welfare Clinics in Peshawar City, from November 2005 till April 2006 [6 months]. A convenient sample of 1031 healthy volunteers accompanying their patient to the Out Patient Department [OPD], Wards at HMC and at the welfare clinics in the city were recruited. A structured interview questionnaire was administered to all participants and their anthropometric measurements taken in a standardized way. The mean BMI for the whole sample was 26.9 +/- 7.3. The mean BMI was 31.1 +/- 10.4 and 25.4 +/- 5.2 in females and males respectively. The combined frequency of overweight and obese was 65.8% and 84.6% in males and females respectively [p < 0.001]. Increasing age [p < 0.001] in both sexes, being married [p < 0.001] and ownership/use of motorized vehicles [p < 0.001] were positively associated with increase in BMI. 77.3% of the graduates and 73.2% of illiterates were obese or overweight [p < 0.001]. 99.2% of the housewives and 69.7% of jobless people were obese or overweight [p < 0.001]. A statistically significant association of BMI with awareness was seen among Pakistanis [p = 0.002]. High Blood pressure was positively associated with higher BMI value [p < 0.001]. There is a very high frequency of obesity in our community particularly among females as compared to males and there is positive association of obesity with occupation, educational status, presence of vehicles at home, ethnicity, and married marital status. There is no association of obesity with smoking in our study